Launch Mode

Burroughs High Coach Robert dos Remedios sits in the corner of his school’s empty weight room, turns on his VCR and pops in the videotape that college recruiters all over the West have added to their list of favorites.

Title of the film: Quarterback J.K. Scott’s 1995 Highlights.

Dos Remedios presses “play” and the magic begins.

Scott floating a 30-yard pass onto the fingertips of his receiver. Scott wrestling free from a potential sack and running 57 yards upfield. Scott running right, then throwing left.

Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown.

“Watch his feet,” dos Remedios said as Scott scrambles, then plants and throws in a split-second. “See the way he turns his hips and puts the ball where he needs to get it? I mean, that’s a shot there.”

As the film rolls, the picture becomes clear for anyone who watches: J.K. Scott is a natural.

And nobody seems concerned that the 6-foot-3, 198-pound senior had only one year of tackle-football experience before last year--in Pop Warner as an eighth-grader. Or that he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (10) last season.

He has the size. He has the arm. And, with a 3.60 grade-point average, he has the intelligence to be a major-college quarterback.

Scott already looks the part.

“Just by looking at that highlight tape, people were offering,” dos Remedios said.

Arizona State, Washington and Washington State already have offered scholarships. Wisconsin, Northwestern and Rutgers are also high on Scott.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be playing on Sunday someday,” dos Remedios said.

Dos Remedios realized Scott might be special when he threw a ball over the 13-foot-high, ivy-covered fence at the end of the practice field last year.

The ball landed on a classroom awning after traveling about 75 yards.

Soon he was throwing darts at opposing defenses in passing league and overtaking Mike Barrett as the team’s starting quarterback--all of this with virtually no knowledge of how to play quarterback.

No longer playing on pure instinct, Scott has led Burroughs to a 3-1 start while leading a no-huddle offense.

Scott threw for 1,764 yards last year, and with 839 yards and 11 touchdowns thus far is on pace to reach 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in 10 games. While his completion percentage is somewhat disappointing at 55.3, he has impressed coaches by throwing only one interception.

“Throwing the ball and throwing on the run came easy to me. I did that in flag football,” Scott said. “But it took me the full season to fully understand our offense. Now I feel comfortable. I know when to call an audible.”

Scott called his first audible last year, joining the football team after deciding his future in basketball, his first love, was too limited.

Atop the list of those seeing few limitations in Scott’s new pursuit is Scott Linehan, offensive coordinator at Washington.

“After watching the tape, [Linehan] said the kid was by far the best he’s seen on the West Coast,” dos Remedios said.

NCAA recruiting laws prohibit college coaches from speaking on the record, but dos Remedios is willing to relay their sentiments.

Of Washington State’s Buzz Preston: “As soon as he saw the tape he said, ‘Give me a copy.’ ”

Of Arizona State’s Donnie Henderson: “He came through here during the spring and got a tape. About midway through July, they called and offered him a scholarship.”

Packets of mail arrive daily. The phone calls stream in each night. But Scott has remained calm in the eye of this recruiting storm.

To hear father Terry Scott’s account, it is as if J.K. is coolly standing in the pocket with linebackers blitzing in all directions.

“I stay up all night studying about these schools,” he said. “When we sit down for breakfast, I tell him about this stuff. He’s the one telling me to relax.”

Scott avoids talking to teammates and friends about the recruiting.

“I’m trying to make sure this year I’m having fun and let the other stuff take care of itself,” he said.

Scott is certainly not used to the notoriety. He plays on a team that doesn’t get much respect in the Foothill League.

Scott wasn’t able to change that trend last year. The Indians were 1-3 in league, including lopsided losses to Saugus, 47-7, and Hart, 40-10.

But even if the same scenario plays out this year, Scott will move on without regret.

“I’ve been given an opportunity where I’m at,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade anything for it. I’m real close to some of the guys on my team, and I just can’t see it any other way.”