George Bussey, Myron Pryor share common roots

While their hometown was awash in tout sheets and mint juleps, two proud sons of Louisville, Ky., spent the weekend in Foxboro participating in a different high-stakes derby.

Patriots [team stats]’ second-day selections George Bussey (170th overall) and Myron Pryor (207th) were on opposite sides of the line during two days of double sessions at Patriots rookie minicamp at Gillette Stadium.

Bussey attended Western High School and Pryor went to Eastern High School, but the two huge linemen never clashed in their days playing scholastic football in Louisville.

That changed when Bussey elected to play left tackle at Louisville while Pryor was a defensive tackle at Kentucky. Bussey and Pryor clashed several times in the annual Blue Grass showdown and likely will renew hostilities when Patriots training camp begins in July.

“I never really played directly over him, but we had quite a few hard encounters in some pretty big games,” said Pryor, a four-year starter with the Wildcats and a second-team All-SEC selection in 2008.

“But his game speaks for itself and that’s why we are both here.”

Pryor’s defining moment last season was against Louisville, when he was named SEC defensive player of the week.

“I know I’m athletic but I’m not like Bruce Smith or anything like that,” Pryor said.

“I feel that I’m athletic and that I’m explosive and I think that’s what helps me get the advantage over some guys that don’t have that.”

At 6-foot-1, 310 pounds, Pryor is built to secure a nose tackle job in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. Incumbent Vince Wilfork [stats] owns the position outright, but he has only a year remaining on his contract and he will command a hefty pay raise.

To deal with that eventuality, the Pats selected Boston College tackle Ron Brace in the second round to challenge Mike Wright in the backup spot. Pryor was added to the collection in the sixth round, so he must get a handle on the two-gap responsibilities in a 3-4 formation in due haste.

“We played the 4-3 in college, but this is a new system and it’s something I’m going to have to get used to,” said Pryor. “It’s something I have to practice every day and learn the defense and learn the scheme more.”

Bussey was a first-team Big East All-Star at left tackle for Louisville, where he learned the valuable skill of protecting the quarterback’s blind side from defensive ends and blitzing linebackers. Bussey will be competing with second-round pick Sebastian Vollmer and eight-year starter Matt Light [stats] at left tackle.

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