Clayton News Daily

By Anthony Rhoads

On the Lovejoy football team, offensive lineman Chris Scott is known as "The Big Easy" for his size and his easygoing demeanor.

But just because he has an easygoing personality that doesn't mean the 6-foot-6, 322-pound senior lets himself get pushed around on the football field. In fact, he has been one of the most heavily-recruited offensive linemen in the state this year.

"He's going to play at the next level," Lovejoy head coach Al Hughes said. "He'll have his choice of where he wants to play. He really is a fine young man."

About 30 schools have been seriously looking at him but Scott said he's narrowed his choices to five schools and all of them are big-time programs ? Nebraska, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU.

"It's been fun," Scott said of the recruiting process. "I'm taking it as I go."

Scott is a four-year starter at Lovejoy and Hughes said it was evident from the start he was going to be an impact player at the school.

"He was a big ol' boy and he was real easygoing," Hughes said. "I told him one day that he was just a ?Big Easy.'"

Even though it's obvious he has the size to be an effective offensive lineman, he's got the total package to be a major force on the football field.

"He's very athletic for a big man," Hughes said. "He moves like a little guy. He started as a freshman and played against some good players on the team and competed against them. He's played alongside some good players here."

Coming into this year, Scott was determined to have a good season.

"I knew (the off-season work) was going to be important," he said. "I want to be a dominant offensive lineman and dominate my opponents. This is my last year and I want to make it count."

Here are some offensive linemen from Clayton and Henry counties who are now playing Division I-A and I-AA football:

Morrow' C.J. Brooks is a fifth-year senior at Maryland this year. The guard was a pre-season second-team all-American selection by Athlon and Playboy and was named to the All-ACC team last year. Brooks has been a starter since his freshman season.

Lovejoy's Darrin Mitchell is a senior guard at Notre Dame this year.

Lovejoy's Anthony Parker is a freshman at Tennessee.

Eagle's Landing's Kenny Griffin is a sophomore at Troy State.