The junior anchor of the D-line will graduate after fall term with an eye on the 2020 NFL draft

Jordon Scott didn’t make the 3,000-mile trek from Largo, Fla., to Eugene without a personal road map.

Oregon’s starting nose tackle arrived on campus with the goal of graduating in three years and putting himself in position to declare for the 2020 NFL draft.

Scott, entering his junior season, is on track to earn a degree in ethnic studies and a minor in journalism from UO at the end of the fall term.

If the nimble 320-pound preseason all-Pac-12 second team selection remains healthy and productive, there is a good chance Scott will hear his name called a few rounds after Justin Herbert next April at the NFL draft in Las Vegas.

“From the beginning, my mom always told me that school was the most important because one day football is going to end, whether you like it or not, and you’ve got to have something,” Scott said after a recent fall camp practice. “So when I first got here, I told all of my academic advisors that I wanted to graduate in three years. I’m on pace to do it right now.”

Scott has started 24 consecutive games for the Ducks, including all 13 last season, and was on the Football Writers Association of America’s freshman all-American team in 2017.

Like a lot of kids growing up in Florida, Scott wanted to play for the Gators in the SEC. He was also a fan of Oregon’s speedy stars and the rise of the program's national brand under Chip Kelly and Marcus Mariota.

“I think it has been pretty cool coming to Oregon. I mean, it’s always been my dream school besides Florida,” Scott said. “Oregon has always been my dream school since Mariota and all those (players), De’Anthony Thomas and LaMichael James. Everybody wore 21 (James’ number) in little league.

“I always wanted to come to Oregon, and then once I got the opportunity, I knew it was the right thing to do.”

Since verbally committing to Oregon on Christmas 2016, 18 days after Willie Taggart left South Florida to replace Mark Helfrich, Scott has anchored the program’s rebuilding efforts on defense.

During two seasons in Jim Leavitt’s scheme, Scott had 63 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.

Scott said his responsibilities at the point of attack — last season Pro Football Focus graded him out as a top-10 defensive lineman against the run — won’t change much under new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos.

“I think the competition now is a bit more challenging because we’ve got guys who can play all along the line of scrimmage,” Scott said. “With this new defense, everybody can play every position. Coach Joe (Salave'a) preaches to everybody, ‘Stay on your toes to keep your spot.’

“As long as you come to practice hard and do what you’re supposed to do, you should be able to do that.”

The depth behind and around Scott and classmate Austin Faoliu has been improved with the addition of a group of highly touted freshmen for Salave’a, entering his third season as Oregon's defensive line coach, to mold.

“It seems like yesterday that (Austin) and Jordon got here,” Salave’a said of his foundation-building recruits. “We continue to challenge those guys to be the leaders and the demonstrators of the culture we’re building in our room and then as a unit.”

Scott continued to work on his conditioning and pass rushing skills during the offseason. In addition to squeezing in extra classes and credits every quarter in order to graduate early, he has also continued squeezing off the pounds.

After weighing 355 pounds coming out of Pinellas Park High, Scott weighs 320 pounds at the midpoint of fall camp.

“For the most part, it’s just working hard and making sure I eat the right things and do the right things outside of football taking care of my body,” Scott said. “I still eat all the things I used to eat. It’s all about moderation.”

When Taggart left for Florida State after one season with the Ducks, Scott never wavered from his plan and helped coach Mario Cristobal — another Floridian — stabilize the program during last year’s 9-4 finish.

“The special part about Jordon Scott is that he’s a special guy,” Cristobal said. “When a guy like that comes on over and has the success that he’s had, on the field and in the classroom … he’s become a very visible figure in our program as well, and for all the right reasons.

“I think it speaks volumes. I think parents and players see that, they want that for their children as well.”

In other words, Scott’s success story at Oregon will could help the coaching staff recruit then next Jordon Scott.

“He’s kind of like a walking billboard for us in Florida,” Cristobal added. “A real wide one, a real big one.”

This is an important fall for the big man. If Scott’s upward trajectory on the field continues, he’ll be leaving Oregon with a degree in hand and heading into the NFL workforce.

“I’m just putting myself in the best position possible for my future,” Scott said. “If things go as planned, it won’t be a decision to be made.”