Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Josiah Scott Forgoes Senior Season, Enters 2020 NFL Draft
12/30/2019 6:02:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott announced on Monday that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 National Football League Draft.
A product of Hamilton, Ohio, Scott started all 30 games of his Spartan career and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (second team by the media in 2019; third team by the media in 2017). He had a career-high 55 tackles as a junior this season and tied for fourth in the Big Ten during the regular season with 11 passes defended (eight pass break-ups, three interceptions). He finished his Spartan career with 98 tackles, 25 pass break-ups and seven interceptions in 30 games, all starting assignments at cornerback.
"Josiah and I have been in communication throughout this entire process," said Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. "These are extremely tough decisions for players to make. He enrolled here early in 2017 and quickly developed into a starter for us his whole career, helping our defense become one of the best in the nation when he was on the field. Josiah has been nothing but professional during his time here in East Lansing in how he handles his business, both on and off the field. We wish him the best as he prepares for the NFL Draft."
Scott was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN.com in 2017 after starting 12 games and collecting 30 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the nation's seventh-ranked overall defense. He was sidelined for the first eight games of the 2018 season with a knee injury, but still had two interceptions, seven pass break-ups and 13 tackles in five games. He was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after picking off a career-high two passes in the season finale against Rutgers, and was selected the Redbox Bowl Defensive MVP after breaking up a career-high four passes to go along with three tackles vs. Oregon.
As a junior, Scott was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List and was a member of the team's Eagles Leadership Council. He earned MSU's Jim Adams Award for being the team's most unsung hero on defense. Scott recorded a career-high 12 tackles at Ohio State on Oct. 5 and had interceptions against Northwestern, OSU and Maryland.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be conducted April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
A product of Hamilton, Ohio, Scott started all 30 games of his Spartan career and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (second team by the media in 2019; third team by the media in 2017). He had a career-high 55 tackles as a junior this season and tied for fourth in the Big Ten during the regular season with 11 passes defended (eight pass break-ups, three interceptions). He finished his Spartan career with 98 tackles, 25 pass break-ups and seven interceptions in 30 games, all starting assignments at cornerback.
"Josiah and I have been in communication throughout this entire process," said Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. "These are extremely tough decisions for players to make. He enrolled here early in 2017 and quickly developed into a starter for us his whole career, helping our defense become one of the best in the nation when he was on the field. Josiah has been nothing but professional during his time here in East Lansing in how he handles his business, both on and off the field. We wish him the best as he prepares for the NFL Draft."
Scott was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN.com in 2017 after starting 12 games and collecting 30 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the nation's seventh-ranked overall defense. He was sidelined for the first eight games of the 2018 season with a knee injury, but still had two interceptions, seven pass break-ups and 13 tackles in five games. He was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after picking off a career-high two passes in the season finale against Rutgers, and was selected the Redbox Bowl Defensive MVP after breaking up a career-high four passes to go along with three tackles vs. Oregon.
As a junior, Scott was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List and was a member of the team's Eagles Leadership Council. He earned MSU's Jim Adams Award for being the team's most unsung hero on defense. Scott recorded a career-high 12 tackles at Ohio State on Oct. 5 and had interceptions against Northwestern, OSU and Maryland.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be conducted April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
Players Mentioned
CB
/ FootballJonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Iowa
Saturday, November 22
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 17 2025
Monday, November 17