Lighter Elam ready for responsibility as starting nose guard

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky nose guard Matt Elam has grasped the heavy expectations that come with being a highly-touted prospect.

Heavy was also the word often linked with the 6-foot-7, 360-pound junior during his first two seasons with the Wildcats. Though 15 pounds lighter than his freshman season, his size has been a topic for talk-show callers and social media critics wondering if it slowed his development.

Elam gets it, on both counts. He aims to silence doubters this season with a more serious approach to football and food. Thrust into a starting role midway through last fall following Melvin Lewis' season-ending knee injury, he's focused on being the needed physical presence in Kentucky's 3-4 base alignment.

"It's my position and I'm not behind anybody," Elam said. "I just play. It's a change but I like the change."

Elam hopes his leaner look demonstrates his dedication.

"I want them to look at the film and be like, 'he's playing' rather than 'how much does he weigh?,' " Elam noted last week. "I don't want that to be the first question that comes out of somebody's mouth. But I definitely like how people are (saying) 'he's losing the weight.' It just shows I'm more locked in."

The Elizabethtown, Kentucky, native acknowledges that he could have been more focused after arriving as one of coach Mark Stoops' most hyped in-state recruits. Besides struggling with the conditioning needed to handle dual responsibilities of plugging the middle and mounting a pass rush, he relied more on instincts than learning the nuances of being a nose guard.

Lewis' injury eventually lit a fire under Elam to embrace the responsibility. He made just five tackles over the final four games with 22 stops overall but emerged more appreciative of the requirements.

"He understands the game now, the speed of the game and what it entails for him to get in shape," said Kentucky defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, calling Elam a work in progress.

"He's lost some weight, so he can move a little bit better and that's what really is benefiting him."

Elam is most excited about playing the zero technique - or right over the center, rather than nearer the guard - because it feels more natural. Though Stoops said Kentucky will show multiple looks up front this season, Elam's play will be critical toward establishing defensive depth.

Stoops praised Elam improved conditioning and weight but noted he still has work to do and said he "must get getter fundamentally."

Elam is at least playing more snaps, one change he credits to his weight loss. The process has been steady, but he said the key was eliminating sweet foods and drinks from his diet and drinking more water.

Elam has noticed improved stamina and agility as a result, both of which have mattered big as the Wildcats concluded twice-daily practices on Monday.

No doubt, the workouts and extra reps under in hot weather have left Elam exhausted at times. But he has been energized by the added workload and has practiced despite having his left hand in a cast; Stoops downplayed the wrap as a preventive measure for a thumb injury.

Elam is even showing younger teammates how to play the line, which is different. That's one sign of his maturity that arrived just in time for a Kentucky defense needing his presence in many ways.

"He knows what he's doing now, he's mentally strong and he strikes guys," sophomore lineman Tymere Dubose said. "That's a good thing for us."

Asked what he could have done differently before, Elam paused and repeated his newfound locked-in philosophy.

"It's not too late and I'm glad I started seeing it now and working on it," he said. "I definitely could've been happier if it had happened before."

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AP freelancer Keith Taylor contributed to this report.

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