2018 4-star offensive lineman Blaine Scott (6-5, 300) out of Portsmouth, Ohio said he was "mind blown" by his visit to Coral Gables for Paradise camp last weekend.
"It was an unreal event that really exceeded my expectations," Scott said.
"The Paradise Camp was unlike anything I've ever experienced in a camp or visit. It was an unofficial visit with some physical and mental work and it was just nuts -- everything from Coach Richt's amazing backflip off the high dive to meeting greats like Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin."
Scott impressed those in attendance on Saturday night. Miami offensive line coach Stacy Searels seemed to belaying close attention to him.
"Getting to work with Coach Searels, who I've had ties with in the past and being able to compete against some of the highest-ranked kids in the nation who are four-star and five-star type kids was amazing," Scott said.
And what "ties" had Scott had with Searels? His high school head coach, who brought him to Miami camp, played for Searels at Appalachian State in the 1990s.
"Still to this day, my coach talks to Coach Searels at least once or twice a week, which shows you how much Coach Searels cares about his players and how he wants them to be successful. I know the type of man he is and I know a lot of good things about him," said Scott.
Scott explained why listening to the guest coaches added extra meaning to the camp.
"Anybody can come in and have a big motivational speech with you on how to be successful and how to be great at life, but the guys who were there the other day have been at the top of their craft and they know what it takes to be the greatest," he said.
"It really opened my eyes because I went in there with an open mind and I saw what the campus had to offer and I had never been to Florida before. I really didn't expect it to be as good as it was. I was mind blown. I was wild about what Coach Richt has going for him and it's definitely a different breed of people down there that I had never seen."
Some have speculated that Scott is an Ohio State lean, but he spoke on why he doesn't consider that the case.
"The visit really quieted some of my concerns (with Miami). To be honest with you, I didn't play football growing up besides a year and a half in peewee so I was never the Ohio State kid, the Michigan kid, or the Michigan State kid where I really loved a certain program. I know a lot of people probably think that since I'm in Ohio, that Ohio State would be my go-to, but in really open to anything," Scott explained.
"Like I said, the Miami visit really erased any doubt I might have had about them. I know the prop there are genuine, I want to be successful there, and they treat you right."
As far as the talent at Paradise Camp, Scott thought it included the cream of the crop.
"It was definitely a different type of athlete down there. The speed was unreal. It was great to see most if not everybody that came down actually competed. The competition was probably the best camp I've ever been to," he said.
"It was an unreal event that really exceeded my expectations," Scott said.
"The Paradise Camp was unlike anything I've ever experienced in a camp or visit. It was an unofficial visit with some physical and mental work and it was just nuts -- everything from Coach Richt's amazing backflip off the high dive to meeting greats like Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin."
Scott impressed those in attendance on Saturday night. Miami offensive line coach Stacy Searels seemed to belaying close attention to him.
"Getting to work with Coach Searels, who I've had ties with in the past and being able to compete against some of the highest-ranked kids in the nation who are four-star and five-star type kids was amazing," Scott said.
And what "ties" had Scott had with Searels? His high school head coach, who brought him to Miami camp, played for Searels at Appalachian State in the 1990s.
"Still to this day, my coach talks to Coach Searels at least once or twice a week, which shows you how much Coach Searels cares about his players and how he wants them to be successful. I know the type of man he is and I know a lot of good things about him," said Scott.
Scott explained why listening to the guest coaches added extra meaning to the camp.
"Anybody can come in and have a big motivational speech with you on how to be successful and how to be great at life, but the guys who were there the other day have been at the top of their craft and they know what it takes to be the greatest," he said.
"It really opened my eyes because I went in there with an open mind and I saw what the campus had to offer and I had never been to Florida before. I really didn't expect it to be as good as it was. I was mind blown. I was wild about what Coach Richt has going for him and it's definitely a different breed of people down there that I had never seen."
Some have speculated that Scott is an Ohio State lean, but he spoke on why he doesn't consider that the case.
"The visit really quieted some of my concerns (with Miami). To be honest with you, I didn't play football growing up besides a year and a half in peewee so I was never the Ohio State kid, the Michigan kid, or the Michigan State kid where I really loved a certain program. I know a lot of people probably think that since I'm in Ohio, that Ohio State would be my go-to, but in really open to anything," Scott explained.
"Like I said, the Miami visit really erased any doubt I might have had about them. I know the prop there are genuine, I want to be successful there, and they treat you right."
As far as the talent at Paradise Camp, Scott thought it included the cream of the crop.
"It was definitely a different type of athlete down there. The speed was unreal. It was great to see most if not everybody that came down actually competed. The competition was probably the best camp I've ever been to," he said.
