Morning Coffee | Trevathan set for Super Bowl
Super Bowl 50 may be light on local connections, but former Kentucky star and current Denver Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan offers some rooting interest for at least one portion of the Bluegrass State.
Trevathan ended the regular season as the Broncos’ leading tackler (109) after starting 15 games. He also totaled two interceptions and one touchdown. The standout season was all the more impressive considering he was limited to just three games in 2014 due to a knee injury. As recognition for his return to the field, Trevathan was named one of two winners of the Broncos’ 2015 Ed Block Courage Award.
In two playoff games, Trevathan has totaled 14 tackles. He led the Broncos with nine tackles, including eight solo ones, in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers then totaled five tackles in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.
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The Super Bowl berth is already the second in Trevathan’s young career. While Trevathan and his teammates will have few fond memories of Super Bowl XLVIII, a 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in 2014, Trevathan did lead the team with 12 tackles in the game.
Another strong showing from Trevathan this season would mark the third consecutive year a former Wildcat would play a key role in the Super Bowl. Former Wildcat Chris Matthews caught four passes for 109 yards and one touchdown in the Seahawks’ loss last season. Trevathan’s second Super Bowl appearance will mark the 41st time a former Wildcat has played for a team that reached the Super Bowl. He is just the fifth former Wildcat to play for multiple Super Bowl teams and will hope to become the 13th former Wildcat to play for a Super Bowl winner.
With National Signing Day conveniently scheduled just days before the game, expect the current Kentucky staff to play up Trevathan’s stature in the program. Recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow showed up to a basketball game at Rupp Arena wearing a Trevathan jersey before the 2014 Super Bowl he played in.
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Trevathan is not the only former Kentucky college football player making news. Check out these stories for more:
The Denver Post profiled Trevathan’s return from injury last week with the interesting note that he received an engraved bottle of Jim Bean from teammate Brandon Marshall after leading the team in tackles.
Former Louisville players Teddy Bridgewater, Elvis Dumervil, Eric Wood and Gary Barnidge have been named to the Pro Bowl as replacements for Broncos and Panthers players unable to play in the game.
Looking for the next Kentucky NFL star? Sports Illustrated has released its position rankings for Saturday’s Senior Bowl. Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee, Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence and Kentucky inside linebacker Josh Forrest checked in at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 8 at their respective positions.
