‘Huge day for me:’ Bryce Young’s first practice with Panthers

PHOTO | CAROLINA PANTHERS
Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers' top 2023 draft choice, tosses a pass during rookie minicamp Friday at Bank of America Stadium.

Bryce Young didn’t make a great first impression with certain members of the media.

While several local video crews believed they were setting up early to get a shot of the Carolina Panthers’ first overall draft choice arriving at the practice fields behind Bank of America Stadium for his first day on the job, they were surprised to learn they were late. Young was already out on the field, running skeleton plays about 40 minutes before the Panthers officially opened their two-day rookie minicamp.

“It was a huge day for me, my first practice,” Young said during a post-practice interview session. “I wanted to set a tone.”

Young left a different first impression for his coach, Frank Reich, and fellow draft pick, receiver Jonathan Mingo. In the short time since Young joined the Panthers, Reich said he has received “glowing reports” on the former Alabama quarterback’s attention to detail.

“We love guys who love the process, love the grind, who love the game, who love everything about it,” Reich said. “Bryce has demonstrated that his whole life.
“This isn’t anything new for him.”

By the time most of the other rookies and tryout players arrived at the practice fields, Young, without a helmet, commanded walk-through plays with his offensive peers, focusing on precision and detail.

On one of his initial snaps, the count appeared off and the play was scrubbed. On the next attempt, he handed the ball off to tryout quarterback Taylor Powell, who was serving as a stand-in running back.

What didn’t initially go right, Young and the coaches ran it again. First-overall draft picks, along with undrafted free agents, need to get on the same page in a hurry.
The minicamp is a “big opportunity to make an impression for these two days,” Reich said. “When we get out on the field, it’s equal for everybody.

“Bryce made a great [first] impression. Mentally and physically, he looked the part in every way. You could tell he was in a good space mentally.”

During an early passing drill, Young connected with Mingo in stride on a crossing route. A few minutes later, Young threw a wild pass over the middle that Mingo had no chance to catch.

While their play wasn’t perfect, Reich sensed a chemistry developing between Young and Mingo, kind of like when Reich entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1985. Reich’s draft class included Andre Reed, who went on to catch 951 passes, mostly from Jim Kelly. Still, as draftmates, Reich remains connected with the Hall-of-Fame receiver.

“During my playing days, I came in with Andre Reed in the same draft class,” Reich said. “You have something special.”

The Panthers intentions to land Young was one of the worst-kept secrets of the draft, but the team brass did not plan to draft a receiver in the second round unless the right player was available.

He was.

“Mingo was one of the guys we had up there (on our draft charts),” Reich said. "It’s a nice benefit.”

Coming in as rookies, Reich is counting on the two to help each develop.

“They know it’s an opportunity for them,” Reich said. “Same draft class. Two high picks. I think they will be very intentional about creating chemistry. That is normal.
“I would think, hope, for those guys, it will be a unique connection point for a long time.”

Mingo was up first for nearly all receiver drills Friday.

“My mindset is go up there and work,” he said.

The former Ole Miss wideout was asked about his first impressions of Young, a one-time SEC rival. How did he command the huddle?

“You could tell he knows what he’s doing out there,” Mingo said. “By the way he carries himself in the huddle. A lot of people like to be serious. He was throwing some jokes around, listening to music, you know, having fun.”

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