Uber-competitive rookies put Panthers’ defense on edge 

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina Panthers linebackers Boogie Basham, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen wait to perform a drill during training camp in Charlotte. The Panthers drafted Scourton and Umanmielen to beef up a defense that was the NFL's worst ever for points allowed with 534 in 2024.

At his locker with his back to the room’s visitors, Carolina Panthers rookie Princely Umanmielen sat hunched over, examining the box score of their 30-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the exhibition opener. 

A specific number corresponding to Nic Scourton shocked Umanmielen. The uber-competitive edge rusher couldn’t believe his draft mate was credited with a sack. On which play? He couldn’t immediately think of when Scourton put on a hit on Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders behind the line of scrimmage. 

After being disrupted from his solitary stat-sheet study, Umanmielen rose to comment on his professional debut at Bank of America Stadium and assessment of the defense yielding 30 straight points. His attention soon turned to Scourton strolling past his locker. 

“One second,” Umanmielen said, looking away. “Nic, you got a sack?” 

Scourton confirmed it. 

“The one where you pushed him out of bounds, that was a sack?” Umanmielen asked. “That’s what they were talking about?” 

Scourton confirmed it. 

Umanmielen turned back around. 

“That’s some [stuff],” he said, shaking his head with a grin. 

Scourton’s sack came on a 3-and-13, second-quarter pass play. Scourton, a second-round draft pick, and Umanmielen, a third rounder, lined up on the edges of the Panthers’ 3-4 defense. 

Sanders rolled out to his left, narrowly missing a sack attempt by Jaden Crumedy. As Sanders reversed field, Umanmielen stumbled over Crumedy. Meanwhile, Scourton fought through a double team and zeroed in on his target but missed. Sanders pivoted, juking away with a spin move. 

Scourton didn’t give up, chasing Sanders across the field before pushing him out of bounds less than a yard behind the line of scrimmage, beating Umanmielen to his first professional sack. 
“It’s all about competition,” Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said Tuesday. “That’s what (coach) Dave (Canales) preaches. Those two are just (like) everybody. We want competition across the board.”  

Scourton: ‘We’re just blessed’ 

Umanmielen will get a chance to exceed Scourton’s effort at Saturday’s preseason outing against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, but it will be a challenge. The teams engaged in a hot joint practice Thursday. 

Compiling two tackles and two pressures during eight pass-rushing attempts against the Browns, Scourton posted a 91.8 PFF grade, the defense’s highest mark. 

Scourton brushed off the early accolades. The Panthers, after all, allowed 30 consecutive points to a fourth-string QB playing in his first pro game. He’s looking ahead, pointing to Pat Jones II and D.J. Wonnum for veteran leadership and guidance. 

“We got lucky,” Scourton said. “To have two guys who understand we’re trying to go take their job, but want us to be better for the team, and want us to get better.  
“We’re just blessed to have those two guys.” 

Jones, a key offseason free-agent addition, and Wonnum, who entered training camp healthy, were listed as the first-team edge tandem on the second depth chart. Umanmielen and Scourton were paired on the second team. 

General manager Dan Morgan’s personnel changes on the edge are expected to boost a defense that surrendered 534 points last season. A major reason for the injury-plagued unit surrendering the most points in league history could be traced to the lack of generating consistent quarterback pressure. At just 32 sacks, the Panthers tied Tennessee for 29th in the league. 

Newcomers reshape new-look defense  

Umanmielen and Scourton’s early bonding developed through their desire to compete.  

During one of their initial interactions following rookie minicamp, the restless rookies led a small contingent to an empty hotel meeting room. Utilizing a few hotel employees and chairs, which served as opposing offensive linemen, the rookies practiced a series of plays, reviewing the Panthers’ playbook. 

"We're trying to be prepared for practice (Saturday), and that's the type of guy (Umanmielen) is, and that's the type of guy I am, and I'm excited to get to work with him," Scourton said on May 10. "We had a couple of (hotel employees) in the room, and we're like, 'Are we good to be in here?' And they're like, 'Yeah, you're good, but what are y'all doing?'  

“And we’re just like, 'We’re going over plays.’”

Their extracurricular work continues. 

Against the Browns, Canales said during his post-game press conference that the defense whiffed on at least three sacks. Sanders, who played into the third quarter, completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. 

Against the Texans, Evero challenged the edge rushers to better collapse the pocket. He’s helping refine Umanmielen and Scourton’s technique, focusing on secondary moves they didn’t have to rely on in college. 

“They're getting better; it's very clear,” Evero said. “The challenge with that position, especially in the spring, is that you know you just can't have the contact that you need to really evaluate them to really see how they're developing.  

“It's been really good to see the pads on. We're going against tight ends, we're going against tackles, and we're seeing a physical aspect of things. And since the first day we put on the pads up to our padded practice (Monday), there's been a really a lot of growth and a lot of improvement and so that's what we're looking for there.” 

Umanmielen seeks more. As an friendly rival, he naturally wants to at least match Scourton’s production. Or, better yet, top it.   

Canales grinned when asked of the duo’s development, adding, “they’re building a good relationship.” 

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