With the 130th pick in the 2002 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams selected Arizona State University offensive lineman Travis Scott.
And you thought Sun Devil left tackle Levi Jones going to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10 was a surprise.
You are forgiven if you've never heard of Scott. It's not only that he was an offensive lineman and that he played for a little more than a year at ASU. It's that he only started four games in his senior season.
This is how Scott described his playing time last year:
"I played left guard and right guard," Scott told the St. Louis press after being drafted. "If I didn't start that game, I would sit out the first series and then go in at left guard and play that for a series and then go to right guard and play that for a series and then sit out a series and go back in."
In fewer words, Scott was a backup, playing behind Marquise Muldrow and Regis Crawford. But he was a good backup.
The 6-foot-6, 311-pound guard was an All-American at Mesa Community College before joining the Sun Devils two years ago. His on-field intensity was unmatched (he was ejected in ASU's loss at USC this past season) and his potential seemed limitless. During Scott's junior season, his infant son got sick and he had run-ins with former Sun Devil offensive line coach George Yarno.
"I have a son that was born three months premature, and he was sick," Scott said. "I got into an argument with a coach (Yarno) ... I decided to stay with my family and help them out. I wanted to be there for my son."
So Scott quit the team, stunting his development and damaging his chance to claim a full-time starting role when new ASU head coach Dirk Koetter allowed him to return before his senior year.
Scott meshed much better with Koetter's staff. When St. Louis coach Mike Martz came to Tempe to work out Peters and Jones, ASU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes invited Scott to join them. Needless to say, Martz liked what he saw.
"(Rams offensive line coach) John (Matsko) and I are kind of overwhelmed by this guy," Martz said. "The workout was just outstanding ... He's got great feet. He's a tough guy. He got thrown out of the USC game for getting after a guy, and he's got that mean, nasty streak you like to see on the offensive linemen ... These guys just don't come along very often."
Scott had applied for an extra year of eligibility to make up for his lost junior season. When the NCAA denied his request, he became eligible for the draft, but only after missing out on the senior All-star games and NFL combine. However, Martz had seen all he needed to see and grabbed him in the fourth round to everyone's surprise, including Scott's.
"I had no idea I'd be drafted," Scott said. "I thought I was going as a free agent. I was just gonna be happy to be in someone's camp."
Now he will be in the Rams' camp with a legitimate shot at making the cut.
Matt Kee would like to congratulate the Blaze basketball All-stars for thoroughly thrashing the State Press Hoopsters on Saturday. Good game, guys. Kee also wants to hear your take on ASU athletics. Reach him at matthew.simpson@asu.edu.
