Eric Stokes has experienced the inherent bumps associated with being an executive in the high-stakes NFL.
"It's pressure-packed," the former Nebraska defensive back says. "It's not for everybody. But I love it. I never feel like I'm working."
A year ago, the Carolina Panthers promoted Stokes to director of college scouting. He supervises five area scouts who scour the country evaluating talent. He's worked for four different franchises over the span of nearly 20 years in the NFL scouting realm. He's made it in the business. In short, he knows how to identify NFL-caliber talent.
In that regard, "There are basically 25 college teams that you know are going to produce NFL talent every year," he says.