EMU adds DT Vidal Scott Jr. from transfer portal
Also: What other positions could the Eagles add at to make its roster stronger for 2022?
Transfer Portal Update: April 18, 2022
Former Arkansas State DT joins EMU
Over the weekend, former Arkansas State defensive tackle Vidal Scott Jr., told Eastern Michigan’s football team that he’s decided to transfer to their squad.
Scott recently entered the transfer portal to play out his final year of eligibility. After Scott jumped in the portal on April 3, 17 offers came his way within the first five days, including EMU — the only FBS offer to come through.
Scott played in all 23 games for Arkansas State between 2020 and 2021 with 16 starts. Last year, Scott registered 24 tackles with 5 for loss and 2 sacks.
The Pensacola, Fla. native signed with FCS-level Central Arkansas out of high school, bounced to Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss. for the 2019 season, then transferred to Arkansas State before the 2020 season.
Scott’s commitment comes a day after EMU’s spring game, so Scott will join the team once the whole team reconvenes in June.
Take out the commitment for just a moment here. EMU’s roster is down five bodies from the defensive line room from last year; there are currently 15 D-linemen on roster compared to 21 last year. The departures EMU has to account for from this group include DE Turan Rush, DT Woo Scott Jr., DE DeZaun Brooks, DT Rafe Reyes, DT Michael Smith Jr., and DE Carter Stagner.
The interior defensive line unit lacks experience, so adding a graduate transfer here — regardless of position — makes a ton of sense. All of EMU’s interior linemen that it had to lean on this spring joined the team between the 2019-2021: Alex Merritt (727 career snaps), Peyton Price (223), Aaron Hamilton (187), Dexter Manior (60; 58 at EMU, 2 at Navy), Tim Grant-Randall (20), and Melvin Swindle II (7).
What positions could EMU still add through the portal?
EMU’s obviously continued to recruit through the portal just like everybody else these days, and I’m reading some tea leaves into how this coaching staff is figuring out the rest of its team with a few scholarships still left to give.
Wide receiver
Fans will say EMU’s wide receiver room is already strong with Dylan Drummond, Hassan Beydoun, and Tanner Knue, and I’d generall agree. However, what’s wrong with getting better if EMU’s able to?
Player to watch: Dallas Daniels
Daniels, a one-year graduate transfer prospect from Western Illinois, visited EMU over the weekend. From Dayton Ohio (Trotwood-Maidson HS), Daniels has already made three collegiate stops along the way: Arizona Community College, Northeast Oklahoma A&M, and two years at Western Illinois. He’s already got a good amount of offers from FCS schools, and he’s made trips to EMU, Illinois, and Middle Tennessee.
Interested to see if EMU’s actively trying to give Taylor Powell (or whoever plays QB this year) an extra, proven weapon or two through the portal, or if EMU is just interested in this particular receiver right now.
Cornerback
To start, I think Josh Scott, the JUCO transfer who joined the team in January, will be able to make some plays, but there’s still some room to add more skill and strength on the outsides. The coaching staff feels pretty good with its veteran and younger safeties, but have the young corners developed at the same rates?
Player to watch: Zxaequan “Snoop” Reeves
Reeves entered the portal from Missouri after he signed with the team in 2021 over Pitt and UMass. Reeves didn’t play last year, nor did he record a stat in Mizzou’s recent spring game.
Scott’s already pretty young, and Reeves is even younger. EMU’s probably not looking for a one-year grad student at this position if it can have a guy (or guys) with multiple years of eligibility left instead.
Kicker
Chris Creighton said it himself after Friday’s Spring Game: “Right now (Jesus Gomez is) our only kicker, but that won't be the case once the summer comes. We've been really good on special teams for a while now, put a lot into it... We've got to get back to where we were last year.”
While Gomez had the 53-yard field goal in the practice (in face of terrible weather), there’s still competition that’s badly needed at this position. And replacing a guy like Chad Ryland won’t be an easy task to solve this summer.
