Fresno State Defensive Lineman Pursuing His Opportunity in College Football
The Milwaukee native brings collegiate experience from Illinois to Fresno State, where he continues his development as a defensive lineman after an injury interrupted his first season with the Bulldogs.
College football careers rarely follow identical paths. Some players establish themselves early, earning playing time and building a statistical record in their first seasons. Others must navigate roster changes, positional adjustments, and time away from competition before getting an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
For Steven Scott III, the journey has included those challenges. A Milwaukee native who attended Menomonee Falls High School in Wisconsin, Scott entered college football with the University of Illinois before transferring to Fresno State. His initial college experience came on the offensive line, but he is now listed as a defensive lineman for the Bulldogs.
His first season at Fresno State did not include game action. An injury suffered during fall camp in 2025 kept him out for the entire season, delaying his opportunity to contribute on the field.
Now listed as a sophomore on Fresno State's 2026 football roster, Scott continues his collegiate journey in a program where his next steps will be defined by his development and opportunities for competition. His story remains in progress, with his future contributions still to be established.
- Full Name: Steven Scott III
- Sport: American Football
- Position: Defensive Lineman
- Jersey Number: 98
- Height: 6 feet, 5 inches
- Weight: 285 pounds
- Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Date of Birth: November 1, 2005
- High School: Menomonee Falls High School
- College: Fresno State University
- Previous School: University of Illinois
- Current Team: Fresno State Bulldogs
- Listed Class: Sophomore
- Academic Field: Sport Administration
Scott's football background began in Wisconsin, where he attended Menomonee Falls High School. His high school experience established the foundation for his progression into college football and ultimately led him to Illinois.
At Menomonee Falls, Scott played under head coaches Dan Lutz and Robert Regent-Smith.
His path brought him to a major college football program, where the demands of the sport extend beyond physical size. Collegiate players must adjust to more advanced schemes, stronger competition, and the responsibilities associated with preparing for opponents at a higher level.
Scott's subsequent transition to college football marked the next stage of that development. His early experience as an offensive lineman would become part of his background before his current identification as a defensive lineman at Fresno State.
Scott spent the 2024 season at the University of Illinois, where he was listed as a freshman offensive lineman. He did not participate in a game that season, leaving him without recorded collegiate playing statistics.
The following stage of his career brought him to Fresno State. The move introduced a new program and a different position designation, placing him on the Bulldogs' defensive line.
Scott was listed as a redshirt freshman in 2025. According to his official Fresno State player biography, he suffered an injury during fall camp that prevented him from participating throughout the season.
The missed campaign represents a significant interruption in his early college career. Without game appearances, he could not build an on-field statistical record during that season. His documented history instead reflects two consecutive college seasons without game participation, first at Illinois and then at Fresno State.
Scott remained part of Fresno State's football program and appeared on its 2026 roster as a sophomore defensive lineman. That continued roster presence marks the latest documented stage of his college journey.
At 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Scott has the listed physical dimensions of a defensive lineman suited to the demands of play in the trenches. His position places him in a part of football where physical engagement, technical execution, and assignment discipline are important elements of the game.
Defensive linemen operate against offensive blockers, working to disrupt running plays, pressure quarterbacks, and prevent opposing offenses from establishing favorable conditions. Success requires a combination of strength, leverage, footwork, hand technique, and awareness.
Scott's previous experience as an offensive lineman at Illinois is a documented part of his football background. However, no public performance data establishes how that experience influences his current defensive technique or gives him a measurable advantage against opposing blockers.
Similarly, his pass-rushing effectiveness, run-defense production, tackling ability, and overall athletic performance cannot be evaluated through college game statistics because none are recorded in his available official profile.
His listed measurements establish his physical profile, but they do not independently demonstrate his playing ability.
Scott's documented collegiate milestones center on his progression between programs and his continued place on Fresno State's roster.
His 2024 season at Illinois established his initial college affiliation. His subsequent move to Fresno State brought a new program and a defensive line designation. The injury that prevented him from competing in 2025 then became the defining circumstance of his first season with the Bulldogs.
Scott's physical measurements and continued roster presence provide context for his place in the program, but his college production has yet to be established through recorded game statistics.
Scott's documented background includes his family and interests outside football. He is the son of Steven and Marcia Scott and has one sister, Ella.
His listed interests include weightlifting and playing video games. He is also pursuing studies in Sport Administration, an academic field connected to the broader world of sports and athletics.
These details provide a limited but meaningful picture of Scott beyond his position on the field.
The injury that sidelined him in 2025 remains the clearest documented obstacle in his collegiate career. Its impact on his season is clear, although the personal details of his experience during recovery have not been publicly established.
Fresno State's 2026 roster lists Scott as a sophomore defensive lineman wearing No. 98. His official listing gives his height as 6-foot-5 and his weight as 285 pounds.
His next stage will be shaped by his continued development within the Bulldogs' program and any opportunities he earns to compete. At this point, no verified 2026 game statistics establish his level of production, and his precise role in the defensive rotation has not been confirmed.
Scott's long-term impact at Fresno State is still taking shape. Without recorded college appearances or established statistical accomplishments, there is not yet a measurable basis for assessing his influence on teammates, the program, or the wider sport.
His journey nonetheless illustrates that a college football career can include substantial transitions before a player establishes himself in competition. Moving from Illinois to Fresno State and entering a new position have been documented parts of his progression.
Whether that progression ultimately leads to a significant role will depend on future opportunities and performances that have yet to be recorded.
Steven Scott III's football journey has reached another stage at Fresno State, where he remains listed as a sophomore defensive lineman after an injury interrupted his first season with the Bulldogs.
His background includes high school football in Wisconsin, an initial college experience at Illinois, and a transition to a new program and position. Those established milestones provide the foundation of his story, while his competitive achievements at the college level remain to be written.
For Scott, the next chapter will be defined by what comes after the setbacks and transitions. His future impact is not yet measurable, but his continued presence on Fresno State's roster leaves his college football story open to what comes next.
