With the season wrapped up, I thought I'd revisit some of my Storm Sessions interviews with the stars of our playoff run. A transcript of my interview with Keionte Scott is below:
DMoney: Take it all the way back. San Diego, California — born and raised.
Keionte Scott: Yes, sir.
DMoney: Tell me about growing up out there. A lot of people want to live in San Diego. What was your childhood like?
Keionte Scott: It’s a great place to grow up. For me it wasn’t just one place — I went back and forth from San Diego to Vegas, a little bit of both, so I had family in both places. Being able to travel and be around both sides of my family, that was big.
And football-wise, I feel like San Diego has always had a lot of talent, but for a long time you had guys getting slept on. Now you’re starting to see it more — more guys getting recruited, more eyes on it. But overall, it’s just a great place.
DMoney: How would you compare San Diego and Vegas, growing up in both?
Keionte Scott: Totally split down the middle. Vegas feels more like an adult place — when you’re a kid you can’t really do much of what Vegas is “known” for, but it’s still fun and I built a lot of relationships there. San Diego is calmer, more family-oriented. When I go back home, it’s a lot of family. It’s always good to be around them.
DMoney: Were you a sports kid from the jump?
Keionte Scott: Yeah, definitely. And honestly, it’s a crazy story. We were in Albertsons one day when I was five. Single mom, she’s trying to keep all of us together in the store, and I’m running around. I was throwing stuff — I remember I turned something into a football and I’m throwing it around.
My first football coach, Coach Hayes, was in Albertsons that day. He saw me throwing things and asked my mom if I played football. She said no, but she’d been trying to find a team for me. Next thing you know, I’m at practice a couple days later, got a helmet, and I’ve been playing ever since. Never missed a season — fall, spring, I was playing every season. I was just trying to play.
DMoney: What was it about football that hooked you?
Keionte Scott: It was the chance to just let my emotions out and have fun and be free. I’ve always been one of those guys who holds a lot in. On the field, I can release everything. That’s what it’s always been for me — it’s an emotional release.
DMoney: Were you always defense, or were you playing everything as a kid?
Keionte Scott: I played everything. Both ways my whole life, all the way through high school. Then I got to college and it was like, “Alright, you’ve got to choose.” I ended up picking DB.
DMoney: When you say the field is an emotional release, was the physicality part of it always there?
Keionte Scott: Yeah. I used to be one of those snotty-nosed little kids in youth football — mess up and the tears start running. But I learned how to use the anger I felt and channel it into football. That’s how it’s been.
DMoney: Did you do other sports too?
Keionte Scott: A little bit of everything. I fell in love with track — long jump and triple jump — when I was little. I loved being able to jump and do that stuff. It helped me be explosive… it did a little damage to the knees, but it happens.
DMoney: That explosiveness shows up on tape.
Keionte Scott: For real.
DMoney: Off the field as a kid, what were you into?
Keionte Scott: Really just sports. You’d go to your own game, then you’d have another football game after, then you’re playing football with other kids around. Just sports-related stuff, being outside, riding bikes, friends, chilling on the power box — just outside forever.
DMoney: When did it click for you that this could be more than just playing with your friends — that you could play at a serious level?
Keionte Scott: Honestly, my senior year. I’d been moving around different high schools and all that, and growing up it was never like, “Yeah, I’m going to college for sure.” Then senior year I moved back home to San Diego, played both ways, made plays, was explosive — and it clicked.
That’s when the whole recruiting thing started really hitting. I’m getting pulled out of class, coaches coming to talk to me. That’s when it hit like, “Oh man, I can do something with this.”
DMoney: Walk me through the moving around piece. Different schools, different situations — what was that like?
Keionte Scott: My mom was always trying our hardest to put us in the best situation. Sometimes that meant changing schools. But I always found a way to make it work and somehow be there in time for football season. That was always the thing.
I met great people along the way. And it made me good at being in different situations. Sometimes I’d get to a new place in the summer, sometimes the fall — different times — but it was always super fun and I still got to play football and do what I love.
DMoney: You seem comfortable talking to anybody. Was it easy making new friends and starting over?
Keionte Scott: I think it helped me. I try to have good energy, and I feel like that attracts people. I’m never trying to knock anybody’s energy — just be an open book, be friendly, make people smile.
You never know what somebody’s going through, so just saying what’s up could change how they feel in that moment. I’ve always tried to be open and give people a chance to enjoy what I’m bringing, and that makes it easier to build relationships.
DMoney: Do you feel like all that moving around put you under the radar recruiting-wise?
Keionte Scott: Definitely. It had a toll on it. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything. It shaped me into the player I am today — different places, learned a lot.
When I was younger I was always chasing the next opportunity instead of accepting where I was and taking advantage of it. There was trial and error. But it all came together. Everything that happened, happened for a reason.
DMoney: Your first step in college football was junior college.
Keionte Scott: Yes.
DMoney: What was that transition like?
Keionte Scott: At first it’s tough — you see your friends going to big D1 schools and it’s heartbreaking. But I had to turn my focus to what I could control. For me, I put myself in that situation because I didn’t get it done in the classroom. So I locked in.
I went down to Utah to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah — and I’m telling you, it’s literally like one street. We had a McDonald’s, a Little Caesars, a Walmart, and a little taco shop. That’s pretty much it. But I fell in love with it for real. It humbled me. I locked in academically and met great guys. My JUCO guys, we still have a group chat right now — talk every day. Those bonds last forever.
Snow amplified everything. We played a national schedule. We played guys from all around the country. My first year there we made it to the national championship. Being around guys with different stories — why they’re there, what they’re fighting through — it taught me a lot. It gave me a different appreciation for the game. I’ll never forget it. I’m grateful for Snow College. Wouldn’t change it.
DMoney: For people who only see D1 on TV — what’s JUCO football really like?
Keionte Scott: It’s an everyday grind. When you go from high school to JUCO, your mindset changes because nothing is given to you. Everything you have to go earn.
Little things — we didn’t always get cleats. You had to get your own gloves. Snow was a great program, and when we did get things, we appreciated it like Christmas. Brand new cleats felt like Christmas.
That’s the biggest thing: you get a different love for it because everything is earned. And everybody on that team is in the same situation. Everybody is trying to find a way to get out of there — trying to make the next play, the next lift, the extra work. Trying to find another meal, another shake. You’re competing because everybody’s trying to level up, but you’re also grinding together.
I found a good group, and we grinded every day. And a lot of us made it out. That’s why I say it’s a blessing.
DMoney: You became one of the top JUCO recruits in the country. When that recruiting starts, what changes?
Keionte Scott: It puts a target on your back. You go down to Texas, play a Texas team — everybody knows you have offers. Everybody wants tape. You’ll have O-linemen who aren’t even trying to block you. They’re trying to get you on tape. You’ll go on Twitter and see clips like “against recruit with 30 offers,” and it’s just you.
Even in practice, teammates wanted to go against me every day — “Line up, line up.” It brought extra dog out of me because I knew every week I was getting everybody’s best game.
Receiver coaches would talk about it all week: “He has offers. You want offers? This is the game to show up.” Quarterbacks want to complete passes against you, put the ball over your head, score on you. So your mindset has to be on — dog mode — every week, every practice, everything.
And I always tried to help my teammates too. Coaches would come to talk to me and I’d try to connect guys. Teammates would ask for coaches’ numbers, I’d tell them, “Hit them up. Send your tape.” I always tried to pull guys with me.
DMoney: When you’re visiting schools at that stage — you’ve already been through a lot — what were you looking for?
Keionte Scott: Opportunity. A real chance to go somewhere, get developed, and be put in position to excel and get to the next level.
I knew I was behind on the timeline compared to guys who went D1 out of high school. I needed to go somewhere I could make an immediate impact — immediate splash. So that was the biggest thing.
DMoney: You go to Auburn — big-time program, SEC, and you’re coming from the West Coast. What was that transition like?
Keionte Scott: Snow College prepared me for all of it. Living out there in Ephraim for two years — boredom, nothing to do — I can live anywhere in the country. It put me in a grind mindset.
So when I went to Auburn, super far from home, it was like: home is out the window now. It’s about the opportunity at hand. I just went and played ball and fell in love with the South. I appreciate Auburn for everything. I’m grateful for it. That small-town grind mindset made it easier.
DMoney: You had a ton of success in 2023 — making plays at nickel, top punt returner in the SEC, NFL people tweeting about you. You had a chance to go pro then. What made you decide to come back?
Keionte Scott: When I sat down and really thought about it, I asked myself if I was 100% ready to enter that part of life — because it’s a lot. Mentally, physically, spiritually, I didn’t feel like it was time yet.
So the best thing was to come back. I’m grateful I did. I learned a lot. During it, it wasn’t always the best — it felt like a lot going on — but looking back, it was a year of blessing because I hadn’t been in that type of situation before. Going through it taught me a lot.
DMoney: In 2024, more adversity. You’re playing more outside than nickel, and things are different. How did you keep your confidence and handle expectations when people know your name and they’re judging every rep?
Keionte Scott: I tried to be a leader. In 2024, I felt like I was that for the team. So my focus turned to, “It’s their turn now.” Guys were getting opportunities and people still looked up to me.
Even when things weren’t going my way, I’m still leading, still talking guys through situations because they hadn’t been out there like that. That’s how I was raised. It was never hate. I was happy for those boys — that’s my guys. I recruited some of them to Auburn. So I’m not going to be angry. I just kept learning, kept leading, helped wherever I could, and got through it.
DMoney: For fans who think corner is corner — explain the difference between nickel and outside corner.
Keionte Scott: They’re two different positions. I played nickel for so long, and then the transition to outside — the idea sounded good, but the development and how it played out, it changed everything. My playing style didn’t really fit corner the same way.
I’m more of a guy who needs to be closer to the ball, more involved. At corner, you’re on that island. I’m still 100% confident I can go lock things down out there. But mentally it was like, “I’ve got to be here, but I really want to be there.” That’s a real thing. They’re different positions.
DMoney: You entered the portal and ended up at Houston with Coach Etheridge. What went into that decision?
Keionte Scott: That relationship is real life. I love that dude. That’s family. He came to Utah and brought me out of a tough situation, so I’m forever grateful.
And for me, after 2024, I knew I had to clean the tape up. Landing spot didn’t matter as much — I needed a coach who believed in me, knew me, knew what needed to be corrected, and could just go. I didn’t want to rebuild relationships from scratch in that moment. He’s genuine, keeps it real, holds me to the standard, knows what I can do. That mattered.
But I also looked at Houston itself — the opportunity was real. Coach E being there was a cherry on top.
DMoney: For people who don’t know Coach Etheridge, what kind of guy is he?
Keionte Scott: Genuine. What he tells you, he means. You can close the door and he’ll keep it real. I’ve been in that room and opened up to him multiple times. He’s got great advice.
If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. If I’m right, he helps me through it. Great recruiter, but the biggest thing is: what he says during recruiting is how he lives. When you’ve been around as long as I’ve been around, you can tell what’s real and what’s fake. He’s real.
DMoney: Then he gets the Miami opportunity. You’re at Houston. From your perspective, how did you handle that?
Keionte Scott: I wanted to be where my feet are. That’s something Coach E instilled in me. Him leaving was like, “Okay, cool,” but I knew I had to stay focused because the year before wasn’t good. I needed spring to rebuild confidence, stay on my stuff, grind through it. So I stayed locked in all spring.
Then I started thinking bigger picture. I only have this year left — and I wasn’t even supposed to have it. I got blessed by the junior college rule giving me that extra year. So now it’s like: take full advantage.
A lot of pieces were changing. So with prayer and talking to my family, I decided to open it back up and see if there was a better opportunity.
As soon as I went in, my name popped up. Coach Etheridge calls. Other schools call. But now I’m looking at it like, “Let’s really evaluate it.” I came up to visit, asked the same questions — no lying, tell me what it is. I talked to Coach Cristobal, Coach Harris, different guys. I wanted to see the need, the fit, the defense, how I’m used.
After the trip, I felt like: there’s no reason to go anywhere else. I’m in Miami. As an older guy, getting a chance to play here is a blessing. And it lets me show I can be in a place like Miami — where you can do a thousand things besides football — and still be locked in, still be where my feet are, still produce.
And the staff connections mattered. Coach Cristobal recruited me at JUCO. Coach Harris recruited me at JUCO. Coach Etheridge recruited me at JUCO. Those are boxes checked. Genuine connections already. Plus getting a chance to be in Coach Hetherman’s defense — what he’s doing with the nickel — that’s something I like and I feel like I fit.
So I committed. Didn’t take any other visits.
DMoney: Now that you’re actually here — not being recruited, but living it — what stands out about Miami day-to-day?
Keionte Scott: You can see why Miami is Miami. Everything that comes with it is real. The culture is built in. Now it’s just getting people to buy in — and you can see that happening.
It’s structured. It’s serious. And I love that because that’s how I live and how I play. It powers me up. I’m like, “Nobody’s playing. I’m not playing either. We want to win. Everybody wants to win. Let’s win.”
It keeps you on your toes. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. I love being around that. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of it.
DMoney: Let’s talk punt return. You’re a defensive back, but you’re also a returner. What’s the mentality back there when everyone’s watching you catch it — and then everyone’s trying to take your head off?
Keionte Scott: That’s my time to relive my receiver days for real. Get the ball back in my hands. I love it — making people miss, creating excitement.
At first, I wanted kick return because it feels safer. Punt return, it’s different. It’s all confidence. It’s only you back there. Everybody’s looking at you. You’ve got to catch it, then you’ve got to go. If you have doubt, you’ll mess up.
As the confidence grew, it turned into aggression. Some guys will fair catch it, and it’s like, “Yeah, you probably should.” But my mindset is, “I’m trying to do something.” Then through that aggression, you learn when to be smart and when to be aggressive.
Our coaches, they’re always playing Devin Hester clips. I’m watching like, “Man… that dude.” With him, it’s the aggression — catch it and he’s already gone. He’s not thinking, he’s just playing ball. That’s what I’m trying to model: aggressive and able to hit that big play.
DMoney: You’ve been through a lot — different schools, different adversity, and physically nobody feels perfect every day. When you wake up and you don’t feel like doing it, what pushes you?
Keionte Scott: My mindset this year is: it has to happen. Literally. I don’t have time for “I don’t feel like it.” It has to happen.
Anybody in front of me, anybody I’m guarding, setting the edge — whatever it is — it has to happen. There’s a lot weighing on it in my mind, but it’s not pressure. It’s a blessing to be in this situation. So it’s just: it has to happen. That’s the quote this year.
DMoney: When you’re not in meetings, practice, lifting — what are you doing in downtime?
Keionte Scott: Chilling. Sometimes video games, but right now it’s straight ball. Straight ball. Sleeping in the facility. I’m strapped in. Trying to make this happen.
DMoney: Flash forward 20 years. NFL career, long run, it’s over. Where’s Keionte Scott?
Keionte Scott: Somewhere trying to make people better. Giving back — coaching, helping communities, low income, high income, doesn’t matter. Just giving back in any way I can, not just sports but life.
I’m big on the younger generation. My mom instilled that with her nonprofit — summer camps, bringing kids around, making people smile. Some people don’t get the same opportunities, so giving people a chance, leveling the field — that’s important to me.
Entrepreneurship too. Setting my family up to be successful — that’s something I look forward to.
DMoney: Your mom’s nonprofit — what is it?
Keionte Scott: STARS DC — Striving to Achieve Real Success. We grew up with it. Some days we’d wake up and it would be 20 kids in the crib. It was just normal, and they turned into family.
Giving back is what my family has always done. My mom always made sure we understood: we might feel like we’re going through something, but somebody else is going through something worse. It humbled us and taught us to be grateful and happy.
DMoney: We’ve got some fan questions. If you could use one word or phrase to describe this year’s team, what would it be?
Keionte Scott: Dogs.
DMoney: There you go.
Keionte Scott: No cap.
DMoney: Best advice for someone playing high school football right now?
Keionte Scott: Handle the books. That’s the biggest thing. Coaches come in, they watch your tape — if your tape checks the box, the first thing they ask for is your transcript.
You could have 50 interceptions. If that transcript doesn’t pass the test, there’s nothing they can do for you. Put the same energy you put into the field into the books. Go to class. Sit down. Get the help you need. Handle the books. If your transcript passes and your film passes, there’s nothing they can do.
DMoney: What made you switch from offense to defense?
Keionte Scott: At JUCO I was supposed to play both ways, but my coach ended up leaving. Then the defensive coordinator was like, “Come over here.” It happened naturally. I’m grateful I play defense, but I definitely miss offense.
DMoney: First day of camp at Miami — orange and green, sun out — what was that like?
Keionte Scott: Surreal. I was juiced up, gassed up, excited. It was like, “Let’s go have fun. Let’s play ball.” First day felt like the first step toward all the goals I’ve been working for. Learning process, but I was super excited. I was happy.
DMoney: What does it mean to be back with Coach Etheridge and in a role that feels more like home — nickel, return game — even if you’re never really “comfortable”?
Keionte Scott: It’s great. I feel like I’ve acquired all these things from adversity, and now I know what to do with it. Now it’s like, “Let’s go.”
Like my mom says: get up, dust yourself off, keep going. I’m so grateful. I can’t take anything for granted this year. I’m excited to play football and just be me. That’s what I’m going to do — be Keon and play football. Nothing extra. Just be me.
DMoney: Before I let you go — you’ve mentioned your mom a few times. What has she meant to you, in terms of who you are and what you’ve been able to accomplish?
Keionte Scott: Everything. Watching her grind, everything she instilled in us — I can’t even put into words how grateful I am.
Seeing how hard she worked to provide, that meant a lot to us. And I can’t wait to take that load off her. That’s what I’m grinding for every day.
