Trey Lathan learned about MU rivalry, will face former teammate
Kansas linebacker Trey Lathan understands what it means to prepare for a heated rivalry. After transferring from West Virginia, he experienced the intensity of the Mountaineers’ series with Pitt. He said on Hawk Talk he sees similarities now that he’s getting ready to face Missouri.
“I think it’s pretty close with the rivalry aspect,” Lathan said. “I think we’re fighting for a much bigger cause here, but I think it’s about the same scale.”
For Lathan, learning the history of Kansas and Missouri rivalry was something he did this week. Watching a video about the rivalry made an impression.
“For me, it’s just because of the Jayhawkers,” he said. “That’s what I really got from the video, how they stood up for Lawrence and the tenacity they had to draw those people out and continue what we have here.
He continued: “And just how the Missourians burned down Lawrence and just how they just kept fighting and just rebuilt it back to this beautiful place.”
Lathan to play former teammate
This week will bring a rivalry and a personal touch to the game. His former West Virginia teammate and friend Josiah Trotter now plays linebacker for Missouri. The two have exchanged plenty of messages leading up to the game.
“Yeah, Trotter, he’s a great dude and he’s a great player, but he’s a great teammate,” Lathan said. “I had a good time with him playing starting games with him. And, you know, I really hope we put him in the dirt.
“He blows up my phone every day talking about daily reminders, talking about we’re gonna beat you. But okay, yeah, we got something for him. We’re gonna have his number on Saturday.”
Lathan has also quickly embraced the culture at Kansas, something he admitted he didn’t know much about before committing. The Jayhawks leading tackler is happy to be at KU.
“I honestly didn’t really know much, you know, because being from Florida, I only knew about the Florida schools,” he said. “Coach Leipold has done a great job of rebuilding this place. We have a really great culture. And, you know on my visit, that’s all he really poured into me about how the culture is here. It’s a great place and I’m happy to be here.”
Learning football and bowling
Lathan grew up in Miami and started playing football at the age of five. His uncle was a football coach and helped get him started. The first time he played he had four sacks. His mother Kankina, who was at Hawk Talk, said she would get him a video game for every sack he got.
“At the end of the season, I had like 50 video games,” he said.
He has a passion off the football field. Bowling. Brian Hanni asked if he was better at football or bowling.
“I’d say bowling,” Lathan said.
For now, his focus is all on football as they get ready for the Missouri offense. He knows they will present a test with Beau Pribula at quarterback, who he is familiar with from his days at West Virginia.
“I think the quarterback is a great player. I played him last year,” Lathan said. “He’s a threat on the ground, and they have a really good running back who’s forced a lot of missed tackles.”
