A little over two weeks ago, Carolina Panthers great and free agent Cam Newton released a YouTube video in which he named 11 quarterbacks that he’d be willing to back up. And on that list, ironically enough, is a kid his former employer is very likely to scoop up on Thursday.
That kid is Bryce Young, who is the heavy favorite to be selected atop this year’s NFL draft by the Panthers. So, when asked by Sports Illustrated if he’d be down with Newton backing him up, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner had the utmost praise for the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner.
“Honestly, it’s surreal to even hear a sentence like that,” Young said. “I grew up watching Cam and just to see the success that he had, how much he changed the game, changed the position, being an MVP, having so much success at the NFL level—that’s something that was always a dream.
“And I have so much respect for him and look up to him. So, under any circumstance, whatever the scenario is—I feel like there’s so much that I can learn from him and I would love to learn from him. And again, from conversation to anything. I’ve learned a lot from him just from watching and just from being a fan as a player and as a person. In any capacity, being able to learn from him I feel like would be really great for me.”
@sports.illustrated Bryce Young discusses potentially having Cam Newton as his backup in Carolina #bryceyoung #nfl #nfldraft #carolina #panthers #camnewton #football #qb
Considering Young is likely to follow a very similar path to the league, Newton would probably be really great for him. Cam may know a thing or two about being a successful SEC quarterback drafted No. 1 overall to a certain professional football franchise in Charlotte.
Unfortunately for you romantics out there, the Panthers have already signed fellow 2011 draftee Andy Dalton to serve in that mentor/backup role this season. But if Young is indeed the future for Carolina, maybe he’ll run into Newton at the Heisman House one of these days and pick up some advice.
