The Denver Broncos might be seeing a lot more of Wesley Woodyard if D.J. Williams' suspension appeal isn't successful (Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE).

It seems increasingly likely that the Denver Broncos will have to test their depth at linebacker – at least for the first six games of the season.  And while competition at training camp is never a bad thing, you hate to see it predicated on this reason.

On Thursday, federal judge Christine Arguello dismissed embattled linebacker D.J. Williams’ attempt to overturn the sentence handed down by the NFL for a positive drug test last August.  Williams maintained that the league was in violation of protocol through chain-of-custody errors, while the league claims that the samples didn’t originate from a human.  He will now have to take his appeal of the sentence directly to the NFL.

Former Broncos and current Ravens defensive tackle Ryan McBean was also suspended under similar circumstances and has since withdrawn his suit against the league. McBean will serve a three-game suspension to start the season.

Veteran Wesley Woodyard, last year’s third-round pick Nate Irving, and this year’s sixth-round pick Danny Trevathan will likely compete for Williams’ spot on the depth chart, provided the league upholds the suspension.

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Wesley Woodyard against the Green Bay Packers. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

As the Denver Broncos’ sixth round draft pick (188th overall), Danny Trevathan may look like the second coming of Wesley Woodyard, but he’s trying to make his own mark on the NFL.

Like linebacker and special teams expert Woodyard, Trevathan is an undersized linebacker and special teamer that hails from the University of Kentucky.

Initially, Trevathan will be looking to make his mark on special teams just like his mentor.

“That’s your ticket,” Trevathan said. “You want to establish yourself in that aspect of the game, especially the rookies. There’s a lot of people that’s in front of you. A lot of people that have needs for their family…He (John Fox) had me playing a lot of positions today on special teams. I’m trying to get them all down so I can be one of the people they come to when they have a need.”

The 6’0″, 237-pound linebacker had 287 tackles (27.5 for a loss), 6 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 9 forced fumbles in his last two years at Kentucky.

Woodyard came into the NFL as an undrafted rookie, and Trevathan nearly had to follow suit until the Broncos selected him on the last day of the draft.

Woodyard graduated a year before Trevathan arrived at Kentucky, but he has served as a mentor to the younger former Wildcat.

“He’s been born to be a leader,” Trevathan said of Woodyard. “He’s been giving me advice since I’ve been in college. He told me to just play ball, just like being in Kentucky, but you’ve got to handle yourself like a pro here.”

Trevathan even patterned his game after Woodyard.

“He played every aspect of the game,” Trevathan said. “He even returned kicks. That’s why I want to return kicks.”

Trevathan likely won’t be returning kicks as a Bronco, but he will be trying to follow Woodyard’s path to the league no matter how unorthodox it is.

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Danny Trevathan during the game against Central Michigan. (Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE)

The Broncos last pick in the 2012 draft was linebacker Danny Trevathan from Kentucky. They got him in the sixth round (181st overall). The pick was part of the Tim Tebow to the Jets package.

Trevathan been compared to current Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard who is also out of Kentucky. Trevathan could make an immediate impact on special teams before moving his way into a rotating lineup.

To get to know the 6’0″, 237-pound linebacker I talked to Kyle Tucker from Wildcat Blue Nation which is Fansided’s University of Kentucky site. Tucker gives as great insight into the player the Broncos got. Without further ado, I’ll let Tucker steal this show.

PO: Trevathan will likely see some time on special teams initially. How long do you think it will take him to work his way into the lineup, perhaps as a third down specialist?

KT: Trevathan should be an immediate contributor on special team’s and should be in consideration for playing time in the nickel packages quickly as well. While everyone has pegged Trevathan as a 4-3 WLB, it’s important to remember that he was playing ILB this past season in UK’s version of the 3-4 defense. He managed to tally up all of those tackles in the SEC behind defensive ends that averaged 260ish pounds, which is very small for the scheme. Trevathan is a versatile player that can and likely will have a quick impact on the Broncos roster.

PO: What were his strengths and weaknesses at Kentucky?

KT: Trevathan’s biggest strengths are his athleticism, solid fundamentals, and ability to find the ball. Don’t let his slower forty times fool you either. He’s been nursing some injuries since the seasons end and people are making a mistake if they think the 4.8 times he ran are accurate. The staff experimented with Trevathan returning kicks during spring practices twice, so you know he’s explosive. I would bet he runs in the 4.5 range when fully healthy.  He has been one of the most consistent players in the SEC as well and one of the top tacklers in his three years starting on defense.

On the negatives, Trevathan isn’t a typical 3-4 linebacker and your defensive linemen are going to need to keep the opposing O-Line off of him. He does play much bigger than he actually is though. Also, Trevathan has a lengthy list of injury issues. He played through almost all of them and spent the better part of two seasons with his hand in a cast. It does make his tackling numbers even more impressive when you consider that he achieved them one handed! But again, being a slight linebacker for the 3-4 does leave him open to further injury.

PO: He’s been touted for his leadership abilities much like fellow Kentucky alum and current Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard. Do you see other similarities between the two?

KT: It’s funny how similar Woodyard and Trevathan’s results are, yet how differently they get to them. Woodyard was always more of a safety trapped in a linebacker’s body that was smooth in coverage and devastating when rushing the passer. Trevathan was a true linebacker trapped in a safety’s body (until he bulked up this past year), and he is a much nastier player. He will take on anyone. Other than that, Woodyard was always a much more vocal leader and endeared himself to Kentucky fans with his personality. Trevathan is much quieter and is a lead-by-example kind of guy that would rather go bust someone in the mouth than give a rah-rah speech. They actually should compliment each other well.

PO: Anything else you think we should know about Trevathan?

KT: Trevathan is a very good guy and hard worker. He may look tough at first, with the dreads and tattoos, but he is the first guy to pick up a kid for pictures on fan day and he never got in any type of trouble at all while at UK. Denver got a real steal so late in the draft and there is no doubt he’ll be a player for you guys. I really think you got one good on in DT.

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