Travis Leffew

Boyle County will honor two former players who made it to the National Football League with a ceremony Saturday before hanging their autographed jerseys in the high school hallway to recognize their accomplishments. Former Boyle stars Travis Leffew, who played briefly for the Dallas Cowboys, and Jacob Tamme, who just finished his third season with the Indianapolis Colts and has played in the Super Bowl, will both be on hand for the ceremony at halftime of the Boyle-Woodford County boys basketball game.

Few Division I offensive linemen on bowl-bound teams get to start as true freshmen. Not many even get the chance as redshirt freshmen because of the experience and physical strength it takes to play in the interior line. Travis Leffew was one of those few freshmen who got that chance last year at the University of Louisville. However, starting at left tackle as a redshirt freshman came with a price. Leffew struggled early in the season and several times his miscues resulted in quarterback Dave Ragone being hit and/or sacked.

STANFORD - There's one thing Lincoln County coach Mike Settles already knows about Travis Leffew. "You can tell he has a passion for coaching," said Settles. "He also has a knack for relating to kids. Those are two great qualities for a coach to have. " Leffew has joined Settles' staff at Lincoln and will coach the offensive line and defensive ends. He should be well-equipped to handle both duties based on his playing experiences. He was an all-state lineman at Boyle County on state championship teams before earning all-American honors as an offensive lineman at the University of Louisville.

He started every game for four straight years at Louisville. He spent almost two months in Miami this winter training to specifically help his tryout workouts. He's had individual workouts for two teams (Philadelphia and Cleveland) and flown to Chicago for a physical. But with the National Football League draft now less than two weeks away, Travis Leffew knows there's is nothing more he can do. "I believe I am staying calm. I won't be drafted the first day (during the first three rounds)

He's a returning All-America tackle and the front-line anchor of what should be another highly productive Louisville offense. He's held his own against some of the nation's elite players and is already being touted for several prestigious awards. He's also being projected as a potential National Football League draft choice. Yet Boyle County native Travis Leffew insists he's the same fun-loving person he's always been despite his somewhat intimidating size - 6-4, 301 pounds - and lofty reputation.

Jim Clark: Loved your piece on Travis Leffew. I bet he makes it at Green Bay - just seems like the kind of strong guy who means to do there what he did at Louisville. Larry: Travis is an easy guy to write about and, like you, I have no doubts that he will do very well at Green Bay. If all goes as planned, he could have a big year next season.

Louisville senior Travis Leffew, a former Boyle County all-state lineman, is one of 36 linemen on the Football Writers Association of America 2005 Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best interior offensive or defensive lineman in college football since 1946. The 2005 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 8 in Orlando. On The Net Outland Trophy Watch List

Kentucky seniors Taylor Begley and Scott Mitchell have been selected as game captains for Sunday's game with Louisville. Begley has kicked 77 straight extra points and had a 45-yard field goal in UK's final game last year against Tennessee. Mitchell had nine catches for 111 yards in that same game. Begley's former Boyle County teammate, Travis Leffew, is one of Louisville's captains.

HOOVER, Ala. - Bobby Petrino broke into a huge smile when he was told that two of his former players at Louisville, brothers Bobby and Travis Leffew, were now both high school coaches. "I bet they are going to be great coaches," said Petrino, now the head coach at Arkansas, during the SEC media days. "They were both very good students of the game. They both understood how to play football and they both played with unbelievable effort. " The two former Boyle County standouts are now both on the coaching staff at Lincoln County.

Gary Kuchenbrod: I guess that since UL has made the big time, they don't have room for any in-state players. They've already forgotten how they got where they are with players like Bobby and Travis Leffew. What a disappointment it must be for the young man! I certainly hope that Rich Brooks still has a place for him. I've been impressed with his coaching staffs success with recruiting in-state talent. The high school players in KY need to take notes on this incident! Larry: I think a lot of high school coaches and recruits will remember this incident.

STANFORD - Lincoln County assistant football coach Travis Leffew played for coach Bobby Petrino at Louisville from 2002-05, starting 37 straight games on the offensive line. The Boyle County graduate earned second team All-America honors in 2005, as well as all-Big East and academic all-Big East. He was a third-team All-American in 2004 and first team all-Conference USA. Under Petrino, Louisville achieved some of its greatest seasons ever before Petrino left for the Atlanta Falcons and later Arkansas.

The jerseys belong to professional teams, but the men whose names are on them still belong to Boyle County. Travis Leffew and Jacob Tamme say what they were taught at Boyle had a great deal to do with why they were able to advance their football careers so far beyond high school, and they were proud that their school chose to celebrate their accomplishments. They were chosen for recognition because they are the only two from a growing line of Boyle stars who made it to the National Football League, and they were honored Saturday at a ceremony in which they were presented with framed jerseys that will be displayed at the school.

Boyle County will honor two former players who made it to the National Football League with a ceremony Saturday before hanging their autographed jerseys in the high school hallway to recognize their accomplishments. Former Boyle stars Travis Leffew, who played briefly for the Dallas Cowboys, and Jacob Tamme, who just finished his third season with the Indianapolis Colts and has played in the Super Bowl, will both be on hand for the ceremony at halftime of the Boyle-Woodford County boys basketball game.

Once offensive line coach Mike Summers left Arkansas to join the Kentucky coaching staff, Travis Leffew thought to himself that it might not be long before Greg Nord also wound up at Kentucky. “They were pretty much inseparable when they were together at Louisville,” said Leffew, a former Boyle County High School all-state lineman who earned All-American honors at Louisville. “They have a real good bond with each other.” That bond will apparently get even stronger now that Nord, a former Kentucky player and running backs coach, is leaving Illinois after only six months to fill the opening on Joker Phillips’ staff at UK that was created Wednesday when special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Steve Ortmayer was fired.

STANFORD - There's one thing Lincoln County coach Mike Settles already knows about Travis Leffew. "You can tell he has a passion for coaching," said Settles. "He also has a knack for relating to kids. Those are two great qualities for a coach to have. " Leffew has joined Settles' staff at Lincoln and will coach the offensive line and defensive ends. He should be well-equipped to handle both duties based on his playing experiences. He was an all-state lineman at Boyle County on state championship teams before earning all-American honors as an offensive lineman at the University of Louisville.

HOOVER, Ala. - Bobby Petrino broke into a huge smile when he was told that two of his former players at Louisville, brothers Bobby and Travis Leffew, were now both high school coaches. "I bet they are going to be great coaches," said Petrino, now the head coach at Arkansas, during the SEC media days. "They were both very good students of the game. They both understood how to play football and they both played with unbelievable effort. " The two former Boyle County standouts are now both on the coaching staff at Lincoln County.

For the first time in 22 years, Travis Leffew won't be playing football in the fall. Leffew, an all-state lineman at Boyle County and All-American at the University of Louisville, has decided he's through playing football. He was released from the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in early December. When he came home and started spending time with his 2-month old son, he realized it was time to walk away from the NFL and football. "I have definitely decided to hang up my helmet," said Leffew, 26. "It is hard to do. For the majority of my life, I have been wearing a helmet and playing football.

Travis Leffew is back in the National Football League. The former Boyle County and University of Louisville linemen went to Cleveland for a workout Monday and earned himself a spot on the Browns' practice squad. He won't be eligible to play in games, but he's part of the team and will go through his first practice Wednesday. "When they call you to come for a workout, they will tell you this or that but you really don't know what they are looking for," said Leffew. "I had no clue what to expect.

Travis Leffew is disappointed he's no longer with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Boyle County and University of Louisville star is not disappointed, though, in the effort he put into making the roster or how he played in the preseason before being cut by the team Saturday. "There are no regrets. I did my best," said Leffew Monday after he returned home. "There were a couple of technique things I did in Kansas City, and they said I did a great job, that were different than what they use. But my technique got the job done.

Renita Leffew poured a lot of heart and energy into coaching the Lincoln County softball team. But with multiple things going on in her life, Leffew has recently been accepted to radiology school and is also three months pregnant, she feels she can no longer devote the time it takes to be a successful coach. That's why she has resigned her coaching position. "I feel I have my hands full with my life. I hate to leave the girls, but I feel I have to do what I have to do for my life," she said.