By Megan Badger
Wire Managing Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF DA’REL SCOTT
Da’Rel Scott, a Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School graduate who now plays for the New York Giants, is running a free football clinic in Montgomery County on June 22. More than 100 players and fans ages 8 to 14 enrolled in last year’s camp.
Many kids dream about meeting their favorite professional athletes.
For 200 young football players in the area, that dream will become a reality at a free football clinic hosted by NFL running back Da’Rel Scott on June 22.
Scott, 24, is a Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School grad who now plays for the New York Giants. He started the one-day clinic last year to give back to kids in his own community.
More than 100 players and fans ages 8 to 14 enrolled in last year’s camp in Conshohocken, according to his mother, Gloria Scott.
Her son has close ties to football programs in the area, as he played for the well-known Montgomery County Conshy League in his youth.
“He started it for his hometown and the neighboring communities,” Gloria Scott told the Midweek Wire. “But anyone can come. We don’t turn kids away.”
While the clinic is free, enrollment will be limited to 200 players and must be done by June 8. Gloria Scott told the Midweek Wire that they were not releasing information about who else would be involved in the clinic.
Da’Rel Scott organized the camp with the help of The Fellowship House in Conshohocken, where his mother works. Registration information can be found on its website, thefellowshiphouse.org.
Scott graduated from Plymouth-Whitemarsh in 2006 where he played football, track, and basketball. He won a state title in track for the 100-yard dash and came only a few points shy of the milestone 1,000 points in basketball, according to Plymouth-Whitemarsh Athletic Director Charlie Forster.
“Out of the three sports, he certainly leaned toward football,” Forster said. “Of course he was blessed with speed, but he certainly worked very, very hard.”
That hard work earned Scott a slew of football awards during his four years at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, including All-Region honors, Conference Player of the Year his junior and senior year, and was chosen for the Big 33 All-Star Game.
As a senior at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Scott ran 232 times for 2,523 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, leading his team to an 8–3 record and a league championship, according to giants.com.
“He was a four-year starter in football and he was one of a very select few to ever do that at the level of football we play at,” Forster said. “He set the season record for the number of touchdowns in a season — I believe it was 38. He also set the record for career yardage and seasonal yardage.”
Upon graduation, Scott enrolled at the University of Maryland where he earned a degree in kinesiology in 2010.
Despite serious injuries keeping him on the bench for three games in 2007 and five in 2009, Scott was a standout football player in Maryland. As a Terrapin, Scott was named to the Freshman All-ACC Team in 2007, earned Terps’ Most Improved Offensive Player and 1st-team All-ACC in 2008, and was named to the 3rd team All-ACC and earned Military Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2010.
Scott also broke a few records there, including the Maryland bowl record for rushing yards in a game (200) and a 91-yard rush that broke the Terps’ postseason record. He was the 10th player in the university’s history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career and he ranks seventh on the Terps’ all-time list with 2,401 yards.
Scott can now be seen wearing the same colors of his hometown team — blue, white and red — when he suits up for his NFL games. New York picked Scott in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Despite being a superstar athlete, Scott maintains his hometown roots in Montgomery County and keeps in touch with those who helped him along the way.
“When he’s off-season, he comes to basketball games. When he has home games or they’re playing in Philly, he’ll come to the football games,” Forster said. “He’s very gracious with his time in terms of signing autographs.”
“He’s a beloved figure here. People generate toward him and he’ll talk to you about anything,” Forster added. “He’s a very loyal person to the school and very loyal to his family. His family values reflect how he lives his life.”
Those values propelled Scott to give back to his community in the best way he knows: through football.
“My goal and message to [the kids] is no matter what, I care and will be there to encourage, be supportive and let them know it is possible to fulfill your dreams with hard work, determination and many prayers,” Scott said in a recent statement. “One of the most important things is that it brings joy to them. Myself, and those who are giving themselves to help, look forward to having fun with them during the football clinic.”
To register for the 2013 Free Youth Football Clinic, visit www.thefellowshiphouse.org/FBclinic/index.htm.
