Niles Scott Bio
Niles Scott (born September 30, 1995) is an American football nose tackle who is widely recognized for his relentless play on the defensive line. He currently plays for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL), where he has been a key contributor along the interior of the defensive front. A product of Frostburg State, Scott went undrafted in 2018 and built his career through perseverance across multiple NFL practice squads before establishing himself in the spring football ranks.
Standing 6-foot-2 and listed at 320 pounds, Scott combines impressive size with the quickness needed to disrupt running lanes and pressure opposing quarterbacks. Over the course of his professional journey, he has spent time with ten different professional organizations, gaining valuable experience that has shaped him into a seasoned veteran of the trenches. His story is one of patience, hard work, and a refusal to give up on a professional football career.
Early Life and Background
Niles Scott was born on September 30, 1995, in Elkton, Maryland. He grew up in the same small community where he would later attend high school and develop into a Division I college prospect. The tight-knit environment of Elkton helped shape his early passion for football, and the local youth leagues gave him his first opportunities to test himself against older competition. From a young age, Scott displayed a natural ability to anchor at the point of attack and shed blockers, traits that would later define his professional career.
Scott attended Elkton High School, where he starred on the defensive line and drew the attention of college recruiters. His size and athleticism made him a priority target for programs looking to add a space-eating defender to their front seven. While his recruitment did not generate headlines at the national level, his high school performances were more than enough to earn him a scholarship to continue his football career at the collegiate level. The foundation he built in Elkton, both as an athlete and as a person, has remained a cornerstone of his identity throughout his journey in the sport.
Path to American Football
Following his time at Elkton High School, Niles Scott committed to Frostburg State University, a Division III program located in the mountains of western Maryland. The decision to attend Frostburg State allowed him to develop at a level suited to his physical and academic needs while still competing against high-caliber opponents. Over four seasons with the Bobcats, he transformed from a raw recruit into one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Scott’s college progression was marked by steady improvement and growing recognition. He earned Second-team All-NJAC honors in 2016 and was elevated to First-team All-NJAC in 2017, signaling his emergence as one of the top defensive players in the conference. By the end of his senior season, he had accumulated 150 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, and 25 sacks, an impressive statistical portfolio that caught the eye of NFL scouts despite the small-school label.
Niles Scott Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Niles Scott signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018. His initial stint with the 49ers was brief, as he was released at the end of training camp before being signed and released again from the team’s practice squad in early September. The same week, he was claimed by the Denver Broncos and added to their practice squad, where he continued to refine his technique and adjust to the speed of the professional game.
On November 22, 2018, Scott was signed off the Broncos practice squad to the Cincinnati Bengals’ active roster, marking a turning point in his young career. Three days later, he made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns, recording two tackles in a 35–20 loss. He went on to appear in six games during his rookie season, finishing with four total tackles. His second year in Cincinnati was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve in August 2019 with a foot injury, leading to his release the following offseason.
NFL Journeyman Years (2020–2022)
The 2020 season saw Niles Scott continue his pursuit of a stable NFL home, beginning with a short stint on the Buffalo Bills. Signed in early August, he was waived with an injury designation in mid-August and reverted to injured reserve before being released with an injury settlement. Later that December, he was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, where he finished the year and signed a reserve/future contract in January 2021.
Scott’s time in Oakland proved just as transient. He was waived at the end of August 2021 and spent the remainder of the fall cycling through practice squads of the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks. He signed a reserve/future contract with Seattle in January 2022 but was released in May. A brief summer engagement with the Miami Dolphins followed in August 2022, ending with another release from the practice squad in early September. Across these seasons, Scott never stopped working, knowing that one opportunity could change the trajectory of his career.
DC Defenders Era (2023–Present)
On November 17, 2022, Niles Scott was drafted by the DC Defenders of the XFL, providing him with the kind of fresh start he had long been seeking. He spent time on the team’s reserve list before being activated in May 2023, and he quickly established himself as a reliable presence along the Defenders’ defensive front. His combination of size, strength, and experience proved to be a perfect fit for the spring football format, where he was able to showcase his skills on a consistent basis.
Scott re-signed with the Defenders in January 2024 and again in October 2024, demonstrating the organization’s confidence in his contributions. Although he was released in February 2025, he returned to the team the following month and was a member of the squad when they captured the 2025 UFL championship. The title served as a fitting reward for a player who had spent years grinding in anonymity across practice squads. Entering the 2025 season, Scott remained a respected veteran voice and run-stopping force for the Defenders.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Niles Scott’s career came on November 25, 2018, when he made his NFL debut with the Cincinnati Bengals and recorded two tackles against the Cleveland Browns. That game represented the realization of a lifelong dream for the Elkton native. Another milestone arrived in 2025, when he helped the DC Defenders capture a UFL championship, becoming a professional titleholder after years of perseverance through the sport’s developmental ranks.
Niles Scott Career Wins
While Niles Scott’s career has not featured the kind of headline statistics typically associated with high-profile pass rushers, his professional résumé includes meaningful accomplishments at both the college and professional levels. He capped his college journey at Frostburg State with 25 career sacks and three All-NJAC selections across his final two seasons. At the professional level, his most significant victory came in 2025, when he helped the DC Defenders claim the UFL championship.
DC Defenders Highlights
Since joining the DC Defenders in 2022, Niles Scott has been a steady contributor along the interior defensive line. He played a key role in the team’s run to the 2025 UFL championship, using his size and leverage to control the line of scrimmage. His tenure in Washington has been the most stable and productive stretch of his professional career, allowing him to showcase the talent that had been honed across a decade of competitive football.
Niles Scott Family
Personal Life
Public information about Niles Scott’s personal and family life remains limited. He has continued to maintain ties to his hometown of Elkton, Maryland, where his football journey first began. As a private individual, Scott has largely kept his personal affairs out of the public eye, choosing instead to let his play on the field speak for itself.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter for Niles Scott and the DC Defenders. After being released in February, he re-signed with the team in March and quickly regained his role as a starting-caliber nose tackle. His presence in the middle of the defensive line provided leadership and physicality that helped set the tone for a successful Defenders campaign.
Scott’s contributions helped propel DC to a UFL championship in 2025, the culmination of years of perseverance and improvement. The title served as validation of his journey from undrafted free agent to champion, and it reinforced his value as a foundational piece of the Defenders’ defense. With his playing future secure and his legacy at the professional level now firmly established, Scott continued to serve as a veteran anchor for the organization as the season progressed.