Whenever most people fill out a Baltimore Ravens Mt. Rushmore, the first two names they place on it are Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Lewis (7x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year) is definitely in the conversation of the greatest linebackers ever to play the position. You can certainly say the same thing about Reed (5x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year) at the safety position.Â
You don’t need to be a Ravens fan or someone who regularly covers the team to realize that both Lewis and Reed have inspired a whole generation of young football players. University of Illinois free safety Miles Scott is one of those players.Â
“As a kid, I was watching Ray Lewis and Ed Reed a lot,” Scott said in an exclusive with R.org. “They just always talked about the game.
“Ray Lewis intimidated his opponents, and that’s what I used to do as a kid. I used to get hyped as a kid.”
It’s true, Lewis and Reed had confidence in spades. They talked a big game, but they backed it up by playing an even bigger game. The Ravens are, have been, and always will be an organization that prides itself on defense.Â
Lewis and Reed are two of the main reasons for that. Scott, who is projected to potentially be a day three pick in next April’s draft, has good taste in football role models. In the same interview, he also discussed the contemporary NFL safeties that he models his game on.  Â
“Now I watch Jesse Bates, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, obviously (due to Joseph being an Illinois alum),” Scott added.
“Those are some of my favorite safeties that I like to look at, (and) Budda Baker, Derwin James, I always watch those guys.”
Miles Scott is your classic “plays centerfield,” and “excels as the last line of defense” kind of free safety. He’s also a regular in the film room. It’s very clear to see that he learned a great deal from watching Reed. He certainly will not be the last young, developing defender who has learned a great deal from watching Lewis and Reed.Â
