Keionte Scott’s big season with Hurricanes turns him into a fourth-round draft pick
In one season with the Miami Hurricanes, Keionte Scott went from being an uncertainty to being arguably one of the most important pieces to UM’s defense on its run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
The defensive back’s efforts were also noticed in his draft stock rise.
On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Scott in the fourth round with the No. 116 overall pick on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scott is the second Hurricanes player selected by Tampa Bay this draft after the Buccaneers also took edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick on Thursday.
“Just the journey to get to where I am today, it was a lot of ups and downs,” Scott said. “A lot of questions, a lot of long nights. ... It’s definitely a lot of emotions. I feel like I put a lot of work in to the finally have that reward.”
Scott’s efforts were on full display in his one season at Miami. He did a little bit of everything as Miami’s do-it-all nickel cornerback, a foundational piece in defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s system. He finished the season with 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The highlight of those plays: His pick-six in the first half of the Cotton Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes during Miami’s playoff run. Scott said that play was brought up “probably every time” he met with NFL teams during the draft process.
“They want to know how that play was made,” Scott said. “I’m just super grateful to. I tell them all the time that play was made on Tuesday [at practice] and it’s being able to take it from the film room and then put it on in the stadium.”
It was the breakthrough season Scott always knew he could have during a long and winding college football journey. It began with two seasons at Snow College, a junior college in Utah, that followed with three seasons at Auburn.
And it ended with him thriving with the Hurricanes — and with a path to the NFL.
What they’re saying
-NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein describes Scott as being “edgy and urgent near the line with an ability to slip or play off of blocks.
“He can snuff out run plays before they get started. Scott lacks ball production due to inconsistent break anticipation and route squeeze, but he can twitch-and-trigger to close windows, wrap and finish. He keeps yards after contact to a minimum. Scott’s blitz talent off the edge makes him a value-added rusher. He’s an older prospect and needs to play in a scheme that allows him to keep his eyes forward, but Scott’s football character should make him a team favorite as a starting nickelback.”
-ESPN’s Field Yates has Scott as his No. 57 prospect and No. 8 cornerback
-The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Scott as his No. 53 overall draft prospect and No. 4 safety, describing him as someone who “plays like a linebacker in a cornerback’s body; may give the right team meaningful snaps.”
“His ability to set the edge, avoid blocks and make stops at the line of scrimmage is coaching tape for young nickels. He screams downhill as a blitzer and chases down runners in pursuit, although he comes in hot, which can lead to breakdowns in the open field. He sniffs out passing lanes downhill but doesn’t show the same anticipation when working in reverse.”
-CBS Sports had Scott as its No. 53 overall prospect and No. 4 safety.
“He’s a playmaker with good size at nickel, strong ball skills and one of the most effective blitzing defensive backs in the class. Scott’s presence was noticeable when he missed the final four regular-season games, and he immediately made an impact upon returning for the Hurricanes’ playoff run. He triggers downhill naturally and moves smoothly in space.”
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