Jake Scott

Jacob E. "Jake" Scott III (born July 20, 1945, in Greenwood, South Carolina) is a former American football free safety and punt returner who played from 1970 to 1978 for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Scott went to the Pro Bowl five consecutive times between 1971, and 1975. He recorded 35 interceptions in his six seasons as a Dolphin, and another 14 in his three years with the Redskins. He was also a five-time All-Pro.

Scott wore number 13 throughout his career (a number not worn by NFL safeties today), which was later made famous in Miami by Dan Marino, and has since been retired in Marino's honor.

College career

After growing up in Athens, Georgia, Scott played college football at the University of Georgia, where he led Georgia in interceptions in 1967 with six interceptions and 1968 with ten interceptions. In 1967, Scott was named first-team All-SEC defensive back by the Associated Press, and in 1968 again in both the AP and the UPI. The ten interceptions in a season is now second-most in Georgia history behind Terry Hoage’s 12 in 1982. Scott’s 175 return yards on interceptions in 1968 is also second all-time for Georgia.

Scott’s college career total of 315 interception return yards is the most in Georgia’s history. He also holds the current Georgia record for career interceptions.

Scott was inducted into the State of Georgia Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Athens (GA) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

It was announced on May 17, 2011 that Scott had been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Scott began his professional career in 1969 in the Canadian Football League as a defensive back and kick returner with the BC Lions. He was drafted by the Dolphins in seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft, where in his rookie year, he made five interceptions for 112 yards and made one touchdown in a punt return. The following year, he recorded seven interceptions and 318 punt return yards, assisting the team to Super Bowl VI, which they lost 24-3 to the Dallas Cowboys. Scott recorded a 21-yard punt return in the game.

Scott was a key member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated season, and finished that season as Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl VII, recording two interceptions and 63 return yards in the Dolphins' 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins including one in the fourth quarter.^[1] He also played for the Dolphins in their 24-7 Super Bowl VIII win, recording a fumble recovery, 20 punt return yards, and 47 kickoff return yards in that game.

Overall, Scott finished his nine seasons with 49 interceptions which is the Dolphins all-time leader in that category^[2] and 551 return yards, along with 13 fumble recoveries for 35 return yards. On special teams, he gained 1,357 yards and a touchdown returning punts, and 137 yards on six kickoff returns.

In the late 1980s, NFL Films named Scott as the Dolphins All-Time Neutralizer sponsored by Tums. He was inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 1998.[3]

Scott is currently an investor in Hawaii.

Jake Scott was inducted (with Bill Stanfill) into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll on November 18, 2010.

References

1. ^ Super Bowl MVPs Retrieved April 25, 2006
2. ^ 1972 Miami Dolphins player profile, Jake Scott Retrieved April 25, 2006
3. ^ HYDE: Where's Jake Scott? We found him Retrieved December 19, 2006

External links

• Jake Scott's stats on databasefootball
• Jake Scott's stats on pro-football-reference