When you’re a five-star defensive lineman who people call “Big Daddy,” chances are good that expectations are going to be through the roof for your freshman year at Kentucky.

As is often the case when a prospect gets too much hype, the reality of Matt Elam’s performance on the Wildcats defensive line in 2014 was underwhelming.

The 6-foot-7, 360-pound Elam found his way onto the field for all 12 of Kentucky’s games, which is an accomplishment in and of itself for a true freshman. But his 10 tackles (none for loss) were not what Wildcats fans were expecting to see from their prized prospect.

But not all hope is lost. The Kentucky coaching staff is optimistic that the results could change in his second year on campus.

“Anywhere, any position, any sport, it’s tough to play as a true freshman,” Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot told The Courier-Journal. “And he was able to do that and be competitive at times last year, which is impressive.”

The Wildcats are expected to make a full transition to the 3-4 defense after spending last year utilizing both the 4-3 and 3-4 looks at times.

Elam’s frame is ideal for the nose guard position, which is asked to take up space in the middle of the trenches in the 3-4 defense.

Heading into fall camp, Elam is likely behind senior Melvin Lewis at the position.

Coach Mark Stoops hope that Lewis, who is the only returning starter on a defensive line that lost two major contributors from last year’s team to the NFL, can help bring the best out of Elam by embracing a role as his mentor.

“I think Melvin has been a guy that has really tried to lead and help Matt in that area and give him that extra motivation and be the guy, and that’s what it takes for all of our team,” Stoops said, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. “We need more and more leaders.”

One of the knocks on Elam a year ago was his physique, as he showed up to camp overweight (392 pounds according to Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal). Another was his perceived lack of consistency from snap to snap.

If this quote from Lewis at SEC Media Days last week, as featured in The Courier-Journal, is any indication, Elam could be headed in the right direction on both fronts as fall camp approaches.

“He’s making huge strides this offseason with being more consistent and stuff like that,” Lewis said. “There’s been times where I went outside and just saw him running on his own. You can see that he wants it. He has that hunger now. So I really believe that he’s going to make a lot of good plays this year.”