SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Luke Kuechly was ho-hum on Saturday when talking about what it felt like to make his first hit since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
The Carolina Panthers middle linebacker was totally businesslike discussing his goal of improving as a pass rusher in 2016.
Then the conversation turned to doughnuts and his face lit up.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection made his first trip to a Krispy Kreme on Tuesday as part of a takeover of Spartanburg before the team reported the next day to Wofford College for training camp.
Kuechly talked about what the experience was like for him, outside linebacker Shaq Thompson and defensive end Kony Ealy with the kind of passion he normally reserves for football, fishing and his mom’s cooking.