LOGAN, Utah – Through the first five games of the season, opposing teams did their best to keep the ball out of the hands of Utah State's Savon Scarver, one of the most dangerous kick returners in the nation.

After all, he had only returned 10 kickoffs for 199 yards, an average of 19.9 per return. In fact, Scarver didn't even get to return a kickoff in both the North Dakota and BYU games.

But, on the very first chance he got to return a kickoff against UNLV in his hometown of Las Vegas, Scarver raced into the history books.

Scarver returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to help the Aggies record a come-from-behind 28-24 victory over the Rebels last Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium.

With his return, Scarver tied both the NCAA and Mountain West record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with seven. He also set the MW record for career kickoff return yards in the game as he now has 2,649.

Scarver finished the game with 165 all-purpose yards as he returned three kickoffs for 156 yards and had one reception for nine yards.

We caught up with Scarver to discuss tying the NCAA record in his hometown, his dog Jager and whether pineapple belongs on pizza.

USU: What did it mean for you to tie the NCAA record in your hometown of Las Vegas?

Scarver: It meant everything to me. It felt good to be able to tie the record in front of my friends and family, because I don't really get to see them a lot being at school all year. It was an amazing feeling to do it at home, where it all started. I'm blessed and grateful for that. To go home and get another touchdown in a brand new stadium, it is an amazing feeling. It's hard to explain how it feels.

USU: Were you shocked UNLV kicked off to you?

Scarver: I wasn't shocked because on film all week, coach (Nick) Paremski and I were talking about and watching their kicker kick the ball and not have any touchbacks all season. We knew it was going to come, so we just practiced hard all week. We knew we had a chance, so I appreciate the 10 other guys out there helping me get the job done.

USU: What does it mean to you to be an NCAA record holder?

Scarver: It's just a blessing because coming to college, I never expected any of this to happen. I just came to play the game I love and get my education, but to be in a position I am right now, it's just a blessing.

USU: What was going through your mind when the ball was heading toward you?

Scarver: I saw him kick it and watched the flight of the ball, which wasn't really being driven. It was kind of dying, so I was like, 'Okay, this is going to be the one.' I caught it at the goal line and looked at DT (Deven Thompkins), because I trust him, and he led me right to the hole. He opened up the hole by knocking out one of their players on the left side of the field. He opened up the hole for me and I just saw daylight. The only person I had to make miss was the kicker, so I appreciate everybody doing their job. Without DT's block, that probably wouldn't have happened, and it wouldn't have happened without everybody else's pancake blocks. Everybody just did their job and we got the job done."
 
USU: What was going through your mind during the return?
 
Scarver: When you're running with all of that happening, it felt like everything was in slow motion – me catching the ball in slow motion, me hitting the hole in slow motion, running and getting in the end zone, it was all slow motion. I was talking to everybody and they were like, 'Bro, you were really moving.' I was like, 'Really?' I felt like I was running slow like a jogging pace or something. It felt good, though.
 
USU: When did you make it a goal to play college football?
 
Scarver: I've always wanted to go to the NFL, so I knew college was going to be the first step to me getting there. I decided around the age of 11 that I wanted to play college ball. My dream was to come and get my education and be a good football player. Everything is working out how I want it to, and I'm just taking it day by day and enjoying this opportunity, because I know a lot of players don't really get the opportunity to play college football, so it is a blessing.
 
USU: Who are some of the kick returners you have looked up to and maybe patterned yourself after?
 
Scarver: Deion Sanders, Tavon Austin, Tony Pollard and all those electric guys. I can't forget Tyler Lockett. I look up to him a lot. I used to watch him when he was at Kansas State and he returned a 103-yarder with the Seahawks. I was like, 'Wow.' That's something I want to do. All of those guys have helped me get to the point where I am at. I just take notes.
 
USU: What is your most favorite kick return you've had during your time at Utah State?
 
Scarver: My favorite return I actually didn't score on. It was in 2018 when we went to Colorado State and I had that good return on them, but didn't score. It's my favorite because I had to really make five or six people miss, and then I tried to break out, but they got me. I was upset with that one, but it's still probably my favorite one.
 
USU: What would it mean to you to take over sole possession of first place and not have to share the record?
 
Scarver: It would mean a lot. To sit on the top of that chart amongst the guys that are in the NFL and have been there and done that, it would feel amazing. I'm going to keep working hard every day to get to that spot to where I am the only one on the top, because there are five people tied for first right now. I want to break the gap.
 
USU: Outside of football, what do you enjoy doing?
 
Scarver: I enjoy going on hikes with my dog. I enjoy going bowling and playing mini golf with my lady. When I'm not playing football, I'm usually spending time with my dog or my lady (McKenzie Nader).
 
USU: What is your dog's name?
 
Scarver: Jager. He's an Australian shepherd border collie mix with a little bit of heeler in him. He's very energetic.
 
USU: How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
 
Scarver: First, I would find a space that was underground, like a bunker, and then I would drive around – or, if there were no cars, I would find a bike or something to ride – and gather all the food I could like canned food. If it was an apocalypse, all the fresh meat would most likely be contaminated, so I would grab a lot of canned food and a lot of water. I would also go pick fruit from trees and vegetables from gardens, if they were still there, and then bring it all back to the bunker. I would also find some samurai swords.
 
USU: If you could scale any animal to the size of a horse, what would it be?
 
Scarver: An Aggie bull.
 
USU: If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?
 
Scarver: I would say chickens, because they are always getting their eggs taken away from them, and their feathers taken away from them.  
 
USU: What was your favorite toy growing up?
 
Scarver: My favorite toy growing up was the Nerf football. Me and my cousins used to play with it in the house. It wasn't too big and it wasn't too small; it was the perfect size to throw around in the house. We loved doing that.
 
USU: If you could ask your dog three questions, what would they be?
 
Scarver: I would ask my dog, Jager, if he was happy with me being his owner. The second question I would ask him is what his favorite food is and then the third question I would ask is if he likes the snow because we live in Utah.
 
USU: Do cats have any regrets?
 
Scarver: No, because they have nine lives.
 
USU: What is your dream job?
 
Scarver: My dream job is to be an NFL player, for any team. I don't have a favorite team, I just want to be in the NFL and be an elite athlete. Since I was 5 years old, that has been my dream.
 
USU: What was the funniest way you have been injured?
 
Scarver: I hurt my ankle walking up the stairs. It was at my house in Vegas. I looked at my phone and I went to step and hit the edge of the step, and slipped and twisted my ankle. That was probably the funniest way I hurt myself before, going up the stairs.
 
USU: If you could have dinner with anyone, whether alive or dead, who would it be?
 
Scarver: I would have dinner with my baby brother, Bradley Andrew Brown, who passed away in 2010. If I got a chance to eat dinner with him, that would be amazing. I would ask him how heaven is. He was only 5 or 6 months old when he passed away. He is my guardian angel. That's what my mom always said he was for me, and I believe it, because I have been in situations where I have felt him around me and felt his presence.
 
USU: Is cereal soup?
 
Scarver: No, cereal is not soup. Who would think cereal is soup? How could it be, unless the cereal gets all soggy and starts to break, and it gets mixed in. I guess then it could be soupish. I am on the fence for yes and no.
 
USU: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
 
Scarver: No, a hot dog is not a sandwich. Hot dogs are bad for you. Hot dogs increase the rate of death. Seriously.
 
USU: Does pineapple belong on pizza?
 
Scarver: Pineapple definitely belongs on pizza with that nice, sweet taste, with a little bit of sausage. It's amazing. Yes, pineapple does belong on pizza. People are crazy if they don't believe that.

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