CEDAR FALLS --- Quentin Scott's senior year rests on comfort.

Now a fulltime starter at free safety after a season in search of a spot, the University of Northern Iowa senior feels he's back where he belongs.

After all, he played that position at Des Moines North High School and Iowa Central Community College before transferring to UNI.

"I feel so much more comfortable in this defense now," said Scott. "I understand the system and where they want me, those type of things. The system is starting to work for me because I'm starting to work for the system."

Scott borrowed that line from a teammate --- offensive lineman Nate Herrig. On the field, though, Scott is an original --- and a source of discomfort for opposing wide receivers.

At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Scott is much bigger than the typical free safety.

In fact, he is six inches taller than both Curtis Meier and Nick Nelson, the 2008 starters. He has his own version of an eye chart when he looks at a wide receiver.

"Sometimes, when I'm running full speed at them, like on a crossing pattern, their eyes get kind of big," said Scott, smiling. "Maybe they'll drop a pass or something."

Scott added, "It works a little, but there's give and take. Some of the shorter receivers are obviously a little quicker than me. I have to work on quickness all the time."

Nonetheless, that combination of Scott's comfort and a receiver's unease seems to be working well for UNI and head coach Mark Farley.

As the Panthers prepare for Saturday's key game at South Dakota State, Scott shares the team lead in interceptions with linebacker L.J. Fort at two. The senior free safety has three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

"He's made tremendous improvement," said Farley of Scott. "His size is a factor because he can increase his range with his height and the length of his arms. ... Yet he has good speed.

"He's come a long ways. We actually tried to move him last year to get him playing. But he really is a free safety. He does a great job at it."

A year ago, Scott was new, arriving from Iowa Central. He became a man in search of a job. The UNI coaching staff gave him a shot at playing close to the line of scrimmage, essentially as a linebacker. It lacked one thing for Scott --- comfort.

"I was so bad at linebacker," said Scott, laughing. "That's why I probably didn't play. They didn't know where to play me, I was so big."

Scott hit the field in 13 games as a reserve, intercepting one pass (at Western Illinois) and making a total of 20 tackles. By spring ball, after conversations with Farley and defensive coordinator Chris Klieman, Scott took a step forward by moving back to his old spot. He was a free safety once more.

"It was a relief," said Scott.

UNI, of course, needed help in the secondary with the departure of every single starter from 2008. Scott was the oldest member of the new starting quartet, joining junior strong safety Jamar Thompson and two freshmen --- Terrell McBride and Andre Martin --- at the corners.

Through seven games, that crew has taken most --- if not all --- of the critical snaps. Now, Scott knows his role and where he's going.

"He's taken on a leadership role and become a great addition to our team," said Farley. "He just had to come into his own."

To Scott, the 2009 secondary has become a family affair.

"You spend every day with these guys, you're almost like brothers," he said. "You can get after guys now. I might be messing up and they might be giving me a little heck for it.

"I'm not trying to talk down to them because I'm a senior. I feel like we can talk as people. You're 18 now. You're a man. You're a Panther, not a freshman or a rookie now."

And Quentin Scott is a comfortable free safety.

"I just feel like I'm going to make so many more plays," he said.