He’d been in this position before. Entering his second year of college with the expectation of playing a pressure-free backup role, Scott Lathrop was content with waiting his turn. After all, he …
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Warrenton Native Thrives in College QB Role
Posted
By Derrick Forsythe, Record Sports Editor
He’d been in this position before.Entering his second year of college with the expectation of playing a pressure-free backup role, Scott Lathrop was content with waiting his turn.After all, he had joined the team as a walk-on, recognizing his opportunity would have to be earned.Or would it?Two weeks prior to the start of the 2012 season, Southeast Missouri State’s starting quarterback suffered a devastating knee injury that would require surgery. Among the candidates to replace him was an eager Warrenton native who had never taken a snap at the collegiate level.“We didn’t have too many options at the time,” explained Coach Tony Samuel. “We really knew right away that Scotty was going to have to do it.”But this predicament wasn’t foreign to Lathrop.As a sophomore in high school he was unexpectedly cast into the fire after the starting quarterback left the team following the season opener.“It’s something where you have to step up for your teammates,” said Lathrop. “It’s not about you. Your teammates are depending on you to perform.”He rose to the challenge, beginning what would become a record-breaking career.Last August, Lathrop found himself growing up fast, again.“I knew I’d get my chance one day, and luckily, it came really early,” Lathrop said.He started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman, performing so well that he earned Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year honors and was a finalist for the coveted Jerry Rice Award, presented to the most outstanding Football Championship Subdivision player.“I really didn’t expect to do that well,” said Lathrop. “Coming into the season I was just wanting to play and doing anything I could to get on the field.”By the end of the season, he had impressed the coaches enough to earn a full scholarship, which he was recently rewarded.“It’s a big milestone for me,” said Lathrop. “It was something I was looking for out of high school, but it didn’t end up that way. It’s cool to come to a school that didn’t see you deserved it, and then prove to them that I deserved to be on scholarship.”But he ended up turning heads with numbers and was particularly effective as a runner, finishing second on the team with 824 rushing yards on 211 carries.“He’s a very smart football player who runs the ball extremely well and understands what we do,” said Samuel. “He has very quick feet and great balance.”Lathrop wasn’t required to pass often, completing 91 of 158 attempts for 1,025 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.It was perhaps his ability to manage the game which stood out the most to critics. Lathrop’s career debut took place at Division I Central Michigan, requiring him to block out the lights and sounds of an intimidating host.“He really started out well,” said Samuel. “We played Central Michigan, a Division I team on their turn, and I thought Scott came out and did a really good job.”Southeast actually led the Chippewas by two touchdowns, before surrendering control in the fourth quarter. The Redhawks finished the season 3-8, but Lathrop’s progress couldn’t be measured solely in numbers.“The experience of last year was totally invaluable for him,” said Samuel.Despite his success, Lathrop is still having to earn his quarterback job back this season, with Kyle Snyder having rehabbed to near full strength.“We’ve a good healthy quarterback competition that’s only going to make us better,” said Samuel.“This summer is going to play a huge role in who’s going to play,” added Lathrop.
Warrenton native Scott Lathrop was ready when his number called last fall.
