Scott was born in Tallahassee, Florida and spent parts of his childhood in Texas, before his family eventually moved to California. He enrolled at publicMoorpark High School, where he had an outstanding football career, helping his team to reach the section championship game consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. In his junior year, Scott rushed for 3,194 yards on 337 carries. He also scored 45 touchdowns. In order to face tougher competition in his senior year, Scott sought to transfer to a private school. His mother and stepfather reportedly “shopped their kid around”, inquiring several Los Angeles areahigh schools with elite football programs—among them Hart and Oaks Christian—about an enrollment, which caused some friction among Ventura County coaches. Scott eventually ended up at St. Bonaventure High School, where he rushed for 2,433 yards and 34 touchdowns. He helped St. Bonaventure complete a 14–1 season by winning the CIF Southern Section Northern Division title and capturing the Division III state championship. Following his high school career, Scott played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Scott played at tailback for the 2008 Colorado Buffaloes as a true freshman. Phil Steele'sCollege Football, based on his prep accomplishments, selected him to its preseason second-team All-Big 12 squad, while the Sporting News selected him as the Big 12’s top impact freshman and Lindy’s Big 12 Football tabbed him as the Offensive Newcomer of the Year in the conference. In his first game for the Buffaloes, Scott rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries and scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard jump with 2:14 left in the game. He finished his freshman season with 343 rushing yards off of 87 carries. After drawing only one running play in Colorado's 2009 season opening loss to Colorado State, Scott told The Denver Post that he wanted more carries. On November 3, 2009, Scott announced his intention to transfer to UCLA, because of his lack of playing time at Colorado. His uncle Josh Smith left Colorado for UCLA before the summer of 2009. Further, the Los Angeles Times cited unnamed sources within the Bruins’ program that UCLA was not interested in landing Scott, since they already had five tailbacks, and a commitment from former four-star recruit Malcolm Jones. Scott paid an official visit to the University of Cincinnati on March 11–12, 2010. On June 22, 2010, he decided to transfer to the University of South Florida, where he had two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2010 season as a transfer.
Scott decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and entered the 2012 NFL Draft. He was projected to go undrafted by Sports Illustrated, which he ultimately did. He was signed immediately after the draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Scott was cut after the 2012 season without having played a down.
