Kevyn Scott is one of the leaders in the Syracuse secondary.

The SU cornerback was named the defensive captain before the season, and he keyed the Orange’s season-opening win against Wake Forest by intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter.

Scott also made an interception in the end zone in overtime against Toledo, allowing the Orange offense to kick a game-winning field goal on its overtime possession.

The senior cornerback talked to The Daily Orange on Monday about slowing down South Florida star quarterback B.J. Daniels and the rest of the Bulls offense.

The Daily Orange: South Florida, like you guys, has had a tough start to the Big East season, but they have a lot of talent on that team. Have you guys seen that on film?

Scott: Oh, yeah. We started watching film today. They do have a lot of offensive weapons on the field. They’re kind of in the same boat that we’re in, trying to get going in the Big East. It’s going to be a tough matchup for us.

B.J. Daniels obviously is their star at quarterback. What does he do that makes him such a tough matchup for defenses?

He rolls around in the pocket and he buys time. He’s an offensive threat because at any time he could take off and run with the ball or he could throw it. He has a great arm on him, and he has a good pair of legs as far as taking off and running the ball.

You guys have played a couple of running quarterbacks already. How much is that going to help going into this game against Daniels?

It’s going to help us a lot. And the fact that we’ve been playing against him year in, year out, so we know his style, we know what he likes to do. We know that he likes to take off, so we’re going to put some of the game plan in especially for him.

Connecticut had a big day running the ball against you guys last week. Have you added an extra emphasis on stopping the run this week?

That’s what our defense is all about: trying to stop the run. Just, unfortunately, last week, we didn’t stop it as well as we wanted to. But this week, we’re just going to try to execute our defense because we’re a run-stopping defense.

What kind of stuff have you seen from their receivers and do any of them really stand out to you guys in the secondary?

Their leading guy (Sterling Griffin) got hurt. He was good, but Evan Landi and also A.J. Love, he’s an older guy, he’s been around, but most of them are going to run solid routes, and they’re going to make plays when needed.

But they’re not quite on the same level, though, as some of the other top-notch receivers you’ve seen this year?

Compared to what we’ve played this year, we’ve played some of the best. I don’t see them on that level, but still, I give them a lot of credit because they’re still good receivers. I don’t see them drop any balls, and they run their routes to precision.

This bowl eligibility thing has been creeping there for a couple of weeks now. What would it be like for you guys to get that sixth win in the Dome and be able to celebrate here as opposed to last year when you were at Rutgers?

It’ll be great. That’s what we’re trying to do is just get this sixth win because right now, that’s what we’re trying to do — trying to make a bowl.

zjbrown@syr.edu

Published on November 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm