Artavis Scott giving Tigers a spark

Scott has given the Tigers a spark on offense

by Rebecca Holland - Contributor - Sat Oct 17 07:01:02 GMT-04:00 2015

Artavis Scott Artavis Scott
So. Wide Receiver
#3 5-10, 191
Oldsmar, FL
View Full Profile has become an integral part of the Clemson offense at wide receiver in the absence of injured Mike Williams Mike Williams
Jr. Wide Receiver
#7 6-4, 213
Vance, SC
View Full Profile , and the sophomore has given special teams a spark during kick returns, too. As the Tigers prepare to compete with a tough Boston College defense, though, he's feeling confident about his teammates on both sides of the ball.

Scott believes Clemson has the best defense in the country, and that claim will be tested during Saturday's homecoming game against the number one ranked D in the country. In 2014, Clemson barely made it out of Chestnut Hill with a win. However, the Clemson defense stepped up on a late fourth down play and the team took the O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy home.

"We just didn't execute. That's all it was," Scott said of last year's game. "We just didn't execute the things we knew we could do."

He expects the team to keep the trophy in South Carolina this weekend if they can make they plays he knows they're capable of.

"We're going to take what the defense gives us. If it's more running or if it's more passing, that's what it's going to be. We just want to win at the end of the day."

Clemson players have even more determination to win after a week full of talk about "Clemsoning." Scott has turned Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile 's rant about the term following the Georgia Tech game into motivation to keep winning. There's no apparent reason the public is so eager to see an ugly Clemson loss, so Scott thinks the public needed to hear Swinney's words.

"It gets me hyped the way he can be with us and has our back through everything," Scott said. Fellow players echoed similar sentiments, and it's clear that Swinney's coaching style has created a special atmosphere for his players.

"To be honest, he [Swinney] does what he does, man. Even with the dancing, you don't see coaches do that. You can go in their locker room and they're happy, but you don't see their coach go out there and dance with the team like that. I think it's just special. No other team has it like us."

That positive environment has lead players like Scott to concentrate on improving their own personal game. Scott uses the off season to work on his speed and toughness, and he's figured out how to use his smaller size as an advantage.

"You can look at me and think, 'oh he's 5'10", I don't think he could take those type of hits, blah blah blah'" I know how I am, and as a person I'm just determined."

Scott has taken young players Deon CainDeon Cain
Fr. Wide Receiver
#8 6-1, 197
Tampa, FL
View Full Profile and Ray-Ray McCloudRay-Ray McCloud
Fr. Wide Receiver
#34 5-9, 181
Land O' Lakes, FL
View Full Profile under his wing to share his drive to win and wisdom about improving as a player. These players have already shown promise in the snaps they've taken during early season games, but Scott can see great potential beyond those glimmers of talent.

"I try to help them with everything I possibly can. I see the potential in those guys, and once they get it down that's a wrap."

Despite being a young team member himself, Scott has seen the field against some of Clemson's toughest opponents recently, giving him a wealth of information to share with the freshmen. So far he has seen time and made an impact in games against teams including Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and, most recently, Notre Dame. And according to Scott, the Tigers still have room for improvement despite wins against each of those teams.

"Once we put everything together and play the way we know we can play, it's going to be scary."