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SCOUT’S NOTEBOOK: OLE MISS@KENTUCKY

Last Saturday’s showdown between SEC bottom feeders Ole Miss and Kentucky (won by the Wildcats by a 30-13 tally) was hardly a clash of the titans, but it was nonetheless an opportunity to getting a close look at some promising prospects that have a chance to make it at the next level.

Always the “Guy”

Outside linebacker Winston Guy is a self-described “headhunter,” who uses his athleticism and phenomenal instincts in going downhill and defending the run. He didn’t wind up with as many tackles as his teammate Danny Trevathan (10 vs. 17), but Guy’s takedowns were generally more memorable given the sheer force with which he hits people.

The senior wasted no time in making an impact by setting the edge on scatback Jeff Scott, preventing the ballcarrier from gaining the edge and enabling his teammates to flow to the ball on the one-yard advance.

On the next play, the 6’1”, 218-pound converted safety saved a sure touchdown by using his long speed to track down jack-of-all-trades receiver/defensive back Chris Brassell on a 57-yard end-around.

The punishing tackler was once again on the scene on a 2^nd-and-8 running play in which he perfectly timed his blitz and met the 215-pound running back Brandon Bolden head-on and dropped him for a loss.

Guy’s presence versus the run continued into the second half, as he quickly read the direct snap on first down to Bolden and was the first one there to stop his progress. During the play, the upperclassmen’s aggressiveness and strength to work his way through blockers at the line of scrimmage was remarkable.

His ability to immediately diagnose the offense was once again on display late in the third quarter when Guy displayed excellent range in in racing to signal caller Randall Mackey and knocking him back three yards on the quarterback keeper.

Guy plays well going forward; pass coverage is not his strong suit, although he can be serviceable in covering certain tight ends if necessary. He definitely has a role at the next level as a quick and heady disruptor who seems to play within the defensive scheme on most plays.

Also noteworthy is the youngster’s leadership skills on the field with the way he motivates those around him. His biggest challenge is to bulk up once he enters the draft if the plan is for him to play linebacker instead of the strong safety position.

Either way, Guy currently projects as a third or fourth-round pick with the upside to go even higher.

Relentless linebacker finds the holes

Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan is similar to Guy in that he shows a knack for reading and attacking plays. It is hardly an accident that he presently leads the SEC in tackles (111), which makes the fact that he has been left off the Butkus Award list of semifinalists totally unfathomable.

Generously listed at 6’1”, 232-pounds, the omnipresent defender lacks the size to knock bigger men back. But what he lacks in height and weight, he makes up for with his instincts and ability to be around the football.

Trevathan was in perfect position when picking off Mackey who overthrew tight end Jamal Moseley right before halftime. The turnover could be viewed as the Wildcat simply being at the right place at the right time, but he always seems to be in a good spot and generally does not get fooled on play fakes.

During a second-half Bolden run in which the back got stood up by Trevathan on the one-yard gain, the senior exhibited his talent for getting underneath blockers and slipping through small creases en route to the ballcarrier. The active linebacker knows how to gain leverage on his opponents by getting low and taking the proper angles.

His sharpness in immediately reacting to what’s happening in front of him is where it all starts with Trevathan, who probably won’t be drafted as high as he deserves to due to his unimpressive physical dimensions, but should be a steal if he falls below the fifth round.

Running right to daylight

Running back CoShik Williams took advantage of gaping holes blown wide open by the tandem of right guard Larry Warford and right tackle Billy Joe Murphy. The duo began imposing their will at the end of the first quarter with the 336-pound Warford walling off the 300-pound defensive tackle Uriah Grant, creating a middle lane for the ballcarrier on a 5-yard pick-up.

Warford paved the way for a first down on 3^rd-and-4 one play later by grabbing a firm hold of his man and turning him sideways to allow Williams to take the ball down to the 3-yard line. Both Murphy and his fellow offensive lineman combined to blow the defense off the ball on the subsequent 2-yard score run in by the aforementioned Williams.

In the third quarter, Warford did not look overly quick when he pulled left as the lead blocker on a seven-yard gain, but was effective nevertheless. It should be noted that the mauling guard has lost about 20 pounds over the past two years and his footwork has improved as a result.

His ability to move laterally and roll his hips isn’t something that you would normally see from guys his size. In addition, he does a fine job of maintaining his balance and can pick up blitzers in pass protection. Warford has the look of a Day-2 prospect at this point.