Connor Scott’s fondest memory as a quarterback came his freshman season, when he received news he would be brought up to start on the Kirkwood Pioneers’ JV team.

“I was like ‘Okay, they’re interested in me, and I’ve got a chance to help the JV team, not just the freshman team,’” Scott, senior, said. “It was pretty awesome.”

KHS varsity football head coach Matt Irvin described Scott as a great decision maker who distributed the ball well with a strong arm. According to Irvin, Scott’s teammates thought a lot of their quarterback.

Three years, two concussions, one broken collarbone and a near-torn labrum later, Scott is entering his senior season. However, Scott will not be throwing touchdown passes any longer. Instead, he could be the player catching them. After injury-plagued sophomore and junior seasons, Scott has spent this past summer and fall converting to the wide receiver position.

“Unfortunately, quarterback is a position where you need lot of repetitions and losing a year really put him in a bad spot for what’s ahead of him,” Irvin said. “Our concern has been keeping him healthy and giving him the opportunity to contribute to our team this year. We think by going to the wide-receiver position he will be able to do that.”

The opportunity arrived this past summer in a 7-on-7 intersquad practice game. Scott’s team was short one player at receiver. According to Irvin, his old quarterback “jumped in” to the new position.

“You could really see his athleticism, how competitive he was,” Irvin said. “He just wants to be a part of a good team and contribute to that team. It says a lot about him as a person.”

And Irvin speaks highly of Scott as a person. He praises Scott’s team-first attitude.

“His quote to me was ‘Hey coach whatever I can do to help, however I can contribute.’ And that’s been his approach and it has not wavered,” Irvin said. “Sometimes kids will say that and you’re not really sure if they mean it or not, and when things get bad or when something happens, they change their minds real quick. I see him being more steadfast. I think it was more genuine when he said that.”

Irvin said Scott’s positive attitude goes back to his time as a quarterback, where he was a leader on the freshman and JV team. Scott said that leadership role is what he will miss most about the quarterback position.

“It’s kind of one of the things that is good and bad about quarterback,” Scott said. “You’ve gotta be the guy to go out there and be a leader. I’m not saying you can’t be a leader at any other position. But quarterback; he’s the center of the plays. He’s the main guy. He’s gotta get it done for everyone else to get it done.”

The leadership torch is now in the hands of Blake Goddard, senior, and Wil Hadler, junior, who will be manning the quarterback duties for the varsity Pioneers this season. Their presence on the depth chart was another reason for Scott’s decision to end his time as a quarterback. While Scott’s quarterback years are over, he said the experience at his old position has come in handy at wide receiver.

“It gives you a great knowledge of what you’re doing on offense, defensive looks and what other teams are going to do,” Scott said. “I’ve known all the plays as a quarterback, and now going to the wide receiver position it all comes natural. I know what’s going on around me.”

Back playing wide receiver for the first time since eighth grade, and back playing football for the first time in almost one calendar year, Scott said he is excited to get back on the field, run around and “just go enjoy football.”

“To be honest I’m most excited to go out and hit some people,” Scott said. “I’m looking forward to just going full speed and getting the chance to knock someone on their butt.”

Scott will play on offense and special teams this season. In four games played thus far, Scott has caught one pass for 18 yards, and has one kickoff return for 8 yards.

Irvin said he expects Scott to be a solid player throughout the season and believes the complete conversion from quarterback to wide receiver is something he can do.

“I think he’s had a very snake-bit career,” Irvin said. “He’s had some injuries that have really hurt his development. There’s a couple ways you can deal with that. You can hang your head and bemoan your situation, or you can do what Connor did and look for answers, look for solutions and look for open doors, and he’s done that.”