By Matt O'donnell The Post

April 18, 2008

Athens, OH (UWIRE) -- There is something different about quarterback Theo Scott this spring.

Sure, his throws are more accurate and he's limiting his mistakes, but that's not all Scott was missing last season."I'm just confident right now," Scott said. "My mind-set is, it's all about me right now. It's nothing cocky, but it comes to a point when every football player has to look down inside themselves and say, 'I'm the man.'"

That confidence, his teammates and coaches say, is what has changed the most in Scott from a season ago. Last spring, Scott was learning a new playbook and a new set of receivers. He stayed after practices to work out with wide receivers coach Dwayne Dixon and the receiving corps to get better.

That type of dedication is exactly what Scott's coaches say he needs if he wants to eventually reach the level he's aspiring to.

"He wants to be great," quarterbacks coach Gerry Gdowski said. "I think he understands what we're trying to do offensively, and he's really trying to work hard on some of the little things that we've asked him to try and get better."

With Scott performing well last season, finishing 63-of-109 for 743 yards and five touchdowns, and incumbent quarterback Brad Bower graduating, there appeared to be no doubt who was going to be taking snaps behind center this season.

But then, in an effort to create more depth, the Bobcat coaching staff brought in junior-college transfer Boo Jackson to compete with Scott.

Some players might have let that bruise their ego or begin to question their coach's faith in them. Not Scott.

"That's life," Scott said. "Not everything is going to be handed to you, so competition is always great. That's one thing that I've been conditioned with since high school. Competing is in my blood."With one week of spring and two scrimmages left to go, Scott has shown that he can handle the pressure and expectations that come with being the most experienced quarterback on the roster. He was 6-of-7 for 51 yards and a touchdown in the spring's first scrimmage. He also flashed his running ability with two rushes for 20 yards.

Although Scott has been impressive this spring, coach Frank Solich has already said that the competition will probably go on until at least the beginning of fall, so Scott will have to continue to perform at a high level if he wants to win the job.But that's not something that Solich or anybody else has to tell Scott.

"The light is always on you," Scott said. "If you really want something, you have to focus on it, do it, say it, walk it, talk it, everything ... you always have to compose yourself as the man if you want to be the man."

(C) 2008 The Post via UWIRE