NATCHEZ — Chris Scott first met Jay Hopson at a summer football camp at Alcorn State when the Natchez High School quarterback was entering the eighth grade.

Scott and Hopson, now the head coach for the University of Southern Mississippi after serving as ASU’s head man from 2012-2015, developed a strong bond at those camps, and that relationship has placed Southern Miss atop the 2018 prized quarterback’s list of schools.

“(USM) is about 85- to 90-percent, they almost have my commitment,” Scott said. “We used to talk and play around. We started liking each other, and ever since then, I’ve been going to his camps. We just always talked after the camps — I would stay and workout.”

The Golden Eagles, however, aren’t the only school that has drawn Scott’s interest, as the Bulldog signal-caller is taking a close look at both the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Jackson State University.

“I’ve built a strong relationship with both of those coaching staffs,” Scott said.

Scott has a busy plan for the summer as he is scheduled to pay visits to Southern Miss, Mississippi State and ULL in two weeks, and has already made a previous stop at Jackson State.

Scott said the primary key to his decision will boil down to his comfort level at the school.

“I’m looking at style of play, coaching staff and the distance between home and the school,” Scott said. “I’m looking for a mutual commitment — if they’re committed to me, then I’ll be committed to them.”

Despite his varying interest in multiple football programs, Southern Miss and Hopson are clear front-runners in the early going.

“When he moved, my feelings moved with him,” Scott said of Hopson departing Alcorn for USM. “I love Alcorn, because that’s what I grew up liking. I would love to play under someone like (Hopson).”

Scott said that while he is considering his options on the recruiting front, the junior’s primary focus remains with his current team in attempting to make strides in his play this offseason.

“I’m working on my footwork,” Scott said. “I’ve got to keep my base smaller than what it has been — it’s been looking like I’m pitching lately. I have to get back into the rhythm.”

Scott said he and the rest of the Bulldogs will compete in a 7-on-7 summer camp June 10 at Mississippi State.

Scott noted there was a slight adjustment period initially to first-year coach Roy Rigsby’s coaching philosophy, yet it’s continuing to develop.

“I think we are going to shock a lot of people,” Scott said. “When he first came in and told us his plans, we looked at him funny. But as we see we’re developing and it’s actually starting to work, I think it’s going to be a great season. A lot of people don’t expect us to win, but we’re going to shock a lot of people.”