Assessing Darrell Scott's decision

Is it just me, or does there seem to be something more than just football behind Darrell Scott's decision to leave Moorpark High?

Because Scott has yet to speak publicly about his decision, reporters and fans alike have been left to speculate since the announcement was made on Wednesday.

One of the most common beliefs is that Scott doesn't want to risk injury -- and potential collegiate/NFL stardom -- behind an unproven offensive line, with all five starters on last year's unit graduating in spring.

I don't buy that one bit.

Moorpark's offensive line was very effective last season, especially when Scott ran behind 6-foot-8, 315-pounder George Halmandaris.

With the Stanford-bound Halmandaris and company gone next season, there would likely be a few less holes for Scott. There would be times when Scott gets hit, and gets hit very hard.

But Scott didn’t exactly go unscathed last season, as anybody who watched both games against Canyon would attest to. Scott got hit hard hundreds of times, and that’s going to happen no matter where he goes.

As far as the risk of injury goes, that’s a risk taken by every player on every snap.

USC-bound Oaks Christian running back Marc Tyler broke his fibula last season while running behind arguably the best offensive line in the area, and that was against a vastly inferior team in St. Bernard.

Others say Scott would get more exposure at a school like St. Bonaventure or Oaks Christian.

That’s absurd.

Scott is already considered the top running back in the nation in the class of 2008, and that will remain the same next season no matter where he plays.

He has already received a personal visit from USC’s Pete Carroll, and he literally has his pick of the litter when it comes to making a college commitment in the coming months.

If a major Division I college coach hasn’t yet heard of Scott, then that coach has some major recruiting gaps his program must attend to.

Secondly, Scott would likely get less exposure at either of those schools anyways, having to share the rushing load with other established running backs. At St. Bonaventure, budding superstar Patrick Hall will be a junior next season. At Oaks Christian, Malcolm Jones is expected to emerge as more than an adequate replacement for Tyler as a sophomore.

There are countless theories like those circling at the moment, but there is a giant shadow surrounding the whole thing.

I have a strong inclination that there is something less simplistic behind all of it, but who knows?

Did Scott have a falling out with the Moorpark coaching staff? Was Scott mistreated by classmates or teammates, making him feel unwelcome at the school? Does Scott feel homesick, and want to move back to his home state of Florida?

At this point, it’s meaningless to speculate.

Why don’t we hold off on passing judgment, and wait to hear it from the source himself?

--Kevin Connelly