[bears9]

(UWIRE) UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Despite Austin Scott's removal from the Penn State football team and his upcoming trial for an alleged rape, the former tailback has signed with a sports marketing agency with the hopes of entering the NFL draft, according to a press release issued yesterday.

Scott signed on with SKI & Company, according to a release from the company, becoming the firm's first football prospect.

Scott started at Parkland High School in Allentown, where he rushed for 3,853 yards and 53 touchdowns, but never materialized at Penn State.

"I thought he was a marquee high school player ... and there are some players in the NFL now that didn't have marquee collegiate careers," Al Leonzi, the executive vice president of the company's football representation division, said in a telephone interview Tuesday night. "The potential does exist for him, and I hope that's going to materialize."

Scott, who is currently doing an internship through Penn State, Leonzi said, will begin training in New Jersey in preparation for the draft. He also said Scott will be participating in the March 18 Penn State Pro Day. Team spokesman Jeff Nelson did not return a phone message for comment as of press time yesterday.

Booted Penn State RB aims for NFL - Big Ten Network