By Ashley Ferraro
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Scott Walker had always been an athlete. Growing up, he spent years on the baseball field, but when his team dissolved in eighth grade, he decided to try something new. “My dad told me to give football a shot, and once I started playing, I fell in love with it,” Scott says. “It pushed me in a different way, and I knew pretty quickly it was something I wanted to keep doing.”
That decision set Scott on a path that would define his high school career. After working his way up through junior varsity, he earned time on varsity before suffering a major setback during his sophomore season. On a kickoff return, Scott broke both his tibia and fibula, an injury that kept him out for months and forced him to rebuild both physically and mentally. “That was the hardest moment I’ve faced in football,” Scott says. “Not being able to play and just having to focus on getting back was tough, but it made me more motivated to come back stronger.”
His ability to push through adversity had already been shaped by challenges earlier in life. As a child, Scott dealt with vision complications and was later diagnosed with epilepsy in sixth grade. With treatment and persistence, he was able to continue playing sports, developing the discipline and mental resilience that would later define his high school career.
By his senior season in fall 2025, Scott had established himself as one of MSD’s defensive leaders. He finished the year with 103 total tackles, 11 quarterback pressures, six pass breakups, three tackles for loss, and a sack. His performance earned him selection to represent MSD in the BCAA All-Star Football Classic, recognizing him among the top players in the county. He was also named MSD’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, a reflection of his consistency and leadership on the field.
For Scott, football became about more than just performance. “The best part is just having those guys around you,” he says. “Being with your teammates every day and going through everything together—it really feels like a family.” That sense of shared experience helped shape his confidence and identity throughout high school.
Outside of football, Scott remained active in school programs, including DECA and Global Leaders United, where he tutors elementary school students each week. “Being able to help younger students and be someone they can look up to means a lot,” he says. “It’s something that’s helped me grow off the field too.”
Now preparing for college, Scott has received several football offers and is ready for the next opportunity. “What I’m most looking forward to is restarting and having a whole new culture and family,” he says. “Meeting new guys and new people is something I’m really excited about.”
As he prepares to continue his football career in college, he carries with him the resilience and work ethic built throughout his journey.
