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EPHRAIM — Keionte Scott is headed from the plains of rural Utah to the Plains of Alabama.
The four-star defensive back from Snow College announced his decision Wednesday on campus in Ephraim, choosing to sign with Auburn in a signing-day ceremony streamed live on Instagram.
The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback chose Auburn over a top five that also included Oregon, Tennessee, Miami and BYU. The top-rated cornerback in junior college by 247Sports and ESPN.com and a four-star prospect by both, Scott's final official visits — for whatever that is worth — came down to the Tigers and BYU.
The decision came just five days after a scheduled visit to Provo.
"I've been dreaming about tomorrow my whole life," Scott tweeted the night before he signed his National Letter of Intent. "It's crazy how God's timing works; he took me through so many trials and I trusted him through them all and he has gave me an opportunity that I will take full advantage of."
Scott was joined on signing day at Snow by teammate Cortez Hogans, who signed with Boise State; Johnny Scales, who signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State; Noah Kema with Hawaii; Taylor Larsen with Utah State; and Tevita Noa with Kansas.
Scott has been best friends with BYU running back Miles Davis since childhood — the two are both originally from Las Vegas, though Scott spent most of high school in the San Diego area. His relationship with BYU went beyond that, too, as he was coached by former BYU standouts Zac Erekson (head coach), Jan Jorgensen (defensive coordinator) and Tanner Jacobson (defensive backs) during his time with the Badgers.
But his coaches largely stayed neutral in his recruiting, only offering advice when asked and helping the talented cornerback who surged up recruiting rankings as he navigated the process.
"Key is a great player. But he is also a great person," Erekson told KSL.com prior to the defensive star's commitment. "I think this is why BYU has made it to his top 5. He's not a kid who likes to go out and party. He's very focused on becoming the best defensive back in the country and does the things he needs to to achieve that. Where ever he decides to go will be lucky to have him, and I'd expect him to make an immediate impact at his new school."
Scott played in six games in 2021, helping the Badgers to a 7-2 record, top-four national ranking and second-straight postseason appearance with 27 tackles and three interceptions. That after Snow finished 8-1 and ranked No. 2 nationally with only a loss to No. 1 Hutchinson, 29-27 in the NJCAA national championship game.
"This the goal for all of us, to be able to take care of our business here so that we can continue to advance and move on to other places," Erekson said. "The goal is to be sitting up here like Keionte and moving on (to the next level)."
