Source: Kevin Sabitus / Getty
Let’s hope our number nine is a number one with a bullet in his big league debut.
Young, whom the Panthers took with their first overall pick in the NFL draft, and the team start the season on the road in Atlanta.
Young’s first NFL start will come at the same stadium he made his college debut. For his Alabama season opener in 2021, he lead the Crimson Tide to a 44-13 dismantling of Miami at Mercedez-Benz Stadium.
While that’s certainly promising, history says a quarterback taken with the No. 1 overall pick of the draft doesn’t often enjoy the same success in the opener.
The past eight qb’s that were taken at the top spot have an inauspicous 0-7-1 record.
Not since David Carr in 2002 has a quarterback taken with the top pick won his team’s first game of the season.
The last time a quarterback was picked at number one by Carolina and started in Week 1 was 2011. And that was Cam Newton.
There’s plenty of other changes on the offensive side other than at signal caller.
The Panthers have overhauled the skill positions, bringing in running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst and wide receivers Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Jonathan Mingo.
Sunday’s game also features the debut of Frank Reich as the coach guides the team and stalks the sidelines.
Kickoff’s at 1pm.
[Carolina roar noises]
Wait! I can go one better… I’ll let Ked Woodley make the Carolina roar noises.
Enjoy the game, everyone.
