Alabama Commitment Interview with Georgia 2016 5-Star LS Scott Meyer

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

For coaches, players, and a respective fan base, there is nothing better than knowing points can be put on the board in the kicking game. Get the right kicker around the 30-yard line or in and tight games can be won. On the other side, when drives stall and field position needs to be flipped, the punt team can save the day. Exciting or not, the kicking game, when done correctly, wins games, conference titles, and championships.

Most Alabama fans are well aware of JK Scott. He may not be on the high end of the top Alabama players to be listed off around the water cooler, but Scott finished in the Top 25 in punt yards averaging 44.2 per attempt forcing 18 fair caught punts, had 25 downed inside the 20, and with 21 attempts being over 50-plus yards. Of the 70 punts attempted in 2015, just one was blocked.

Many of the most diehard of Crimson Tide fans may not know of Cole Mazza. For those readers who are unsure, he is the team long snapper earning his third letter with Bama in 2015. The good thing for Mazza about being slightly anonymous is that means he is doing his job correctly. Within the game of football, there are so many exciting moments, displays of amazing athleticism, and highlight reel plays that will be shown over and over again and talked about for years to come. With long snappping, a largely overlooked key component of the game, the player has to be consistent, quick, and accurate or points don’t go up on the board, punts get blocked, and games are lost. If a long snapper is known, chances are it is for a blown snap or blunder of some kind.

When the 2016 season completes, the Tide’s 6-2, 240 pound, long snapper will have ended his college eligibility leaving the responsibility of getting the ball off the snap back to the punter or holder without fail to the next in line.

On National Signing Day, and without the fanfare given to 5-star recruits Lyndell Wilson, Ben Davis, Terrell Hall, Jonah Willams, and Charles Baldwin, the next Alabama Crimson Tide long snapper was signed, a 5-star in his own right, Scott Meyer.

Meyer is a 5-star rated long snapper by special teams guru Chris Sailer. The 6’2”, 215 pound, Blessed Trinity Catholic (Georgia) recruit will head to Tuscaloosa with his own list of awards and accomplishments stacked up over the years. Among the many accomplishments include completing 50 of 50 extra point snaps, 15 of 15 field goals snaps, and 53 of 53 punt snaps as a junior. During the offseason before heading into his senior campaign, Meyer averaged a 15 yard snap time of .72 at the Vegas XXVI and a 15 yard snap time of .71 at the Vegas XXV Chris Sailer kicking camps; simply put – tight, accurate, and fast spirals. Meyer was considered a Chris Sailer “Top 12” national performer and was named to the All-(Nick) Saban Team during a 2015 Alabama football camp.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Meyer after his school commitment ceremony to the Crimson Tide to get his breakdown on how the connection with Alabama came about and why he decided to walk-on with the Tide instead of taking full-ride offers from programs like Air Force and Army.

Interview

Scott, congratulations on signing with Alabama.

“Thank you.”

Walk me through how the recruiting process went with the Tide.

“I started talking to them back in the spring. I went to one of their camps. I won my competition and was named to the All-Saban Team. In December they contact me to see if I was interested. I told them I was interested. They asked me to come up for a visit. They told me in December they wanted me as a possible replacement for Cole Mazza, their snapper now. I loved everything they had to offer, and that’s about it.”

When you visited Tuscaloosa, what stood out to you?

“I think the main thing was the way Coach Saban handles academics, he truly cares about it. From the strength staff standpoint, they have the best in the country. The trainers are incredible, the doctors are amazing, Dr. James Andrew is the team surgeon. All of it made sense to me.”

When did you visit the campus?

“Jan. 30.”

When they offered you, what was the offer?

“During my first year I’ll more than likely be redshirted but they said if I start the following year I will be put on scholarship.”

So you’ll play one year behind Mozza who is a senior and then you’re scheduled to take over?

“Yes.”

When did you decide that you wanted to commit to Alabama?

“I knew when I went there on that Saturday.”

When did you commit?

“On Monday (Feb. 1).”

What other schools were showing interest in you as National Signing Day got closer and closer?

“Missouri told me I could come in and start right away. Wake Forest called asking me about becoming a walk-on. I had some Division I-AA offers, some offers from the service academy, and Georgia was showing interest too.”

When do you report to Tuscaloosa?

“On May 29. I come in with the rest of the team, and just eight days after my graduation.”

What are you going to do to celebrate signing with Alabama?

“I guess we’re going to have a lot of family and friends over Thursday night.”

Is your family serving a favorite dish or anything like that in your honor?

“I don’t know. I’m not sure really. I’m not sure what my mom has in store, all I know is she just wants to throw a party.”

What have you been doing so far with your offseason workouts?

“I’ve been working out every day trying to get a lot bigger. That’s about it.”

Scott, again, congratulations on signing with Alabama and good luck.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Meyer family; Scott at his Alabama commitment ceremony.