Few thought Lawrence Guy could win a starting defensive end job against teammates Brent Urban and Carl Davis. Except for Guy.
It was expected to be an uphill battle for Guy, who the Ravens claimed off waivers two years ago. After all, Urban was a fourth-round selection out of Virginia in 2014 and Davis was a third-round pick from Iowa a year later.
But going into the Ravens' second preseason game against Indianapolis on Saturday, the winner is Guy.
"He won't let anything stop him," Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams said. "He is always going in head first no matter what anyone says about him. You can't tell him what he can't do."
That's because Guy, in his sixth NFL season, was told what he couldn't do most of life. He has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia, but the combination wasn't diagnosed until he was 19 as a student at Arizona State.
Until then, he managed his way through inner city schools in Las Vegas, but not without ridicule from teachers and students.
"In college, they offered the testing, so I took it," Guy said. "I knew something was there and then some things started to make sense. I was able to put a name to it.
"Any child that is different, it's going to be tough on them. You fight; you fight in what you believe. If you want to continue to better yourself, you fight for it and not let anyone hold you down."
Guy has that type of attitude on the field. During the past two seasons, he has been one of the top reserves on the defensive line. Last year, he had a career-high 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Because he can play anywhere on the line, Guy filled in whenever a starter was injured. He occasionally made brilliant plays, like running down a quarterback or halfback on the far side of the field, but he never got a chance to start for an extended period of time.
Plus, let's be honest: A lot of competition in the NFL is rigged. Team officials like for their own draft picks to succeed because they invested in those players and a good investment makes the team appear smart.
Entering training camp, either Urban or Davis seemed to be the heir apparent to the position vacated by Chris Canty. Urban is a Canty clone at 6-foot-7, 300 pounds. Davis — at 6-5, 327 pounds — has the type of thickness that makes him strong against the run.
But they don't have Guy's grit and all-around game, not yet anyway. Guy is in the mold of Kelly Gregg, the Ravens' former nose tackle.
"He is just a grunt who does things right, who does what you tell him to do," Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. "He is coachable, plays hard, physical and is a good leader. There might be better athletes somewhere, flashier, especially in the pass rush, but against the run he is tough and steady."
Williams says Guy has one other asset. One that might seem ironic, given some of Guy's personal struggles.
"It's his attention to detail," Williams said, "from the way he hustles on the field to the way he prepares for a game. He is a total pro."
The criticism he hears from his coaches is nowhere near as cruel as some of the things he heard from others when growing up.
"This, football, is pretty easy [to learn]," Guy said, smiling. "Everybody out here is a fighter. You might get yelled at after one play, but the next play might be your play. Again, you have to fight for everything you want. You can't let any person, player or coach hold you down."
That's a message Guy delivers often. During the off season, he speaks to seven or eight schools about dyslexia as well as visiting other charities and foundations.
He also tells his story to the rookies on the team.
"I'm not the only one out there who has this," Guy said. "It's not a disease, it's not a problem, it is just a different way of learning. You just got to keep your head up and move on."