When the Carolina Panthers drafted Shaq Thompson in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, he fell into about as favorable a situation as a budding young linebacker could hope for.
Learning from a pair of All-Pro's, Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis.
And for the past three seasons, Thompson has done just that. The former Washington Huskies star has learned to hone his athleticism into a versatile role on this Panthers defense, slotting in at linebacker, safety and nickel packages when needed.
"I still learn from those guys. It's always a game of learning," Thompson told the Observer last month at Charlotte Motor Speedway.