physical talent they bring. Those are two good additions to the defense.”

Both players have risen to their current level from humble beginnings, especially Freeman.

Trevathan somehow fell to the sixth round in 2012 despite leading the Southeastern Conference in tackles in each of his final two seasons at Kentucky.

Freeman’s ascension was much more unrealistic.

He attended Division-III Mary Hardin-Baylor near his hometown of Waco, Texas, went undrafted and played three years in the Canadian Football League before he got his chance in the NFL with the Colts.

Freeman hasn’t forgotten the difficult path or the hard work that led him to the Bears.

“I’m going to bring my lunch pail and my hard hat and go to work,” he said during training camp. “You always feel like you have something to prove. I still feel like I’m a rookie free agent.

“They might come knock on my door tonight and cut me. So I’m going to be out here working, doing what I need to do to make this team.”

Freeman did not make the climb by himself.

“What I appreciate is my people who were around me, my parents and a small circle of friends who stuck with me and worked out with me,” he said. “When I didn’t know (if I would make it), and I was sleeping on couches, guys took me in. I appreciate them helping me along.

“You’ve got to have that support system. That helped me be where I am. If I didn’t have that love and support, I wouldn’t be here.”

On paper, Freeman and Trevathan automatically make the Bears better defensively, but that’s of no concern to Freeman.

“I’m not trying to be anything on paper,” he said. “I’m trying to get out here and work and do whatever I can to get better.”

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