Derrius Guice split opinion across the NFL on draft day as rumors began to circulate about his off-field persona. Despite those reports being shot down by the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles and by Guice himself, the whispers persist, and thus, a narrative has formed: Guice is trouble away from football.

The Redskins see him differently. While some saw character issues and forecasted future problems, they saw a 20-year-old with a unique personality. As VP of Player Personnel Doug Williams said, the team chose to ignore the outside noise.

Strangely, or perhaps not at all, much of the talk surrounding the running back has come from sources with no history of covering him. While it's impossible to paint a full picture of Guice the person, we can get a look into the one he was while in college at LSU. In speaking with Sonny Shipp, writer for 247Sports' LSU network and someone who has covered Guice extensively since high school, it's obvious that the reality is as far-removed from the rumors as possible.

"Living in Baton Rouge and covering Derrius Guice's recruitment when he was at Catholic High in the same city, I've been associated with covering the young man for close to six years before the Redskins took him in the second round," said Shipp. "In his time at LSU, Guice was not known as a kid who liked to hit the bar scene like you see in a lot of college athletes. He was never suspended or disciplined outside the team for anything. The stories of the struggles the young man endured from losing his father at an early age and his step-brother more recently are well chronicled. There would have been plenty of excuses for Guice to venture outside the boundaries that happens to too many kids in those type of situations.

"The only off the field issue that comes to mind with Guice was when he was suspended for spring football before his senior year of high school for violating team rules stemming from talking back to his superiors," Shipp adds. "However, he was reinstated after a short time away and nothing else ever came up."

To truly get the sense of who a person is, look no further than how they treat others. In that regard, Guice appears to be as upstanding as they come. Shipp paints a picture of a player whose actions speak louder than any words possibly could. Simply put, he's not the selfish, immature problem child some would have you believe he is.

"Off the field, Guice was known more for going out of his way to help people than anything else," Shipp said of Guice. "When a 10-year old girl asked for an autographed football by Guice for Christmas, he not only granted her request but delivered it to her home in person on Christmas Eve and spent some time with the family. Another example of Guice going above and beyond for an individual was when he pulled a lady from a vehicle after she was trapped inside following an accident.

"There may have been some character flaws that the NFL dug up on the star LSU back," he added. "However, there is plenty of proof that shows just what kind of young man the Redskins are getting and they lie in stories like this, as well as the absence of police reports."

There may be some questions about Guice's character, but there certainly aren't any regarding his considerable ability. The Redskins secured the services of someone who was widely believed to be the second-best running back in the entire draft, and one that's certain to play a major part in the offense's success. They've also acquired a strong personality who will fit seamlessly into the Redskins' locker room. Guice is a man who plays for his teammates, not one who acts on his own self-interest.

"Guice may not have team captain on his LSU resume but had he returned for his senior season or been around the program for more than three years he likely would have," Shipp says. "As far as the locker room goes, Guice was known for being the type of guy who horses around with his teammates just like good friends are known for. He was a guy who went to work each day, loved his school and openly talked about playing for his brothers (teammates). When the notion of skipping the Citrus Bowl in 2017 to avoid injury came up, Guice scoffed at the mention of it and went out and accounted for 122 yards rushing and receiving with a pair of scores."

Some may -- and probably will -- continue to use broad strokes when painting a picture of Guice the person. Pay it no mind. The Washington Redskins certainly believe in him, and so should you.