The Carolina Panthers have a long tradition of strong inside linebackers, with players such as Sam Mills, Micheal Barrow, Dan Morgan, Jon Beason, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Shaq Thompson setting the standard for the position.
Trevin Wallace joined the team last year as a rookie. When he arrived in Charlotte, Shaq Thompson spoke to him directly about the expectations ahead. “You’re up next,” Thompson told Wallace.
Now that Thompson is with the Buffalo Bills and after veteran Josey Jewell was released last week due to ongoing concussion symptoms, Wallace’s role on the team has grown. After Jewell’s release was announced last Tuesday, Wallace received another message from Thompson. “He texted me and just told me like, ‘Hey bro, we talked about this when you got here, like you up next; now you really up next though, so just go out there and be free.'”
Wallace said he keeps in touch with Thompson every day. “Talk every single day, like sometimes he just calls me what you doing, checking on me, checking on my family.” In addition to Thompson’s guidance from afar, Wallace also receives regular support from former Panther Luke Kuechly. The two have developed a relationship focused on mentorship and learning.
“We talk, he’ll check up on me, ask me how I’m doing,” Wallace said of Kuechly. “You know, ‘Hey, sometimes you want to go grab lunch,’ so, you know, just getting those good things, learning things from them.”
Wallace explained that both mentors stress the importance of being vocal as a leader on defense. “That’s one thing they tell me, like ‘Hey just go out there; the main thing is you’re the quarterback of the defense so you know you go out there and be vocal and be loud.'”
Last season was challenging for Wallace as he took on responsibilities early in his career by calling plays when injuries kept other linebackers off the field. This year Christian Rozeboom—who previously played under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero with the Los Angeles Rams—has taken over communications duties during games.
“Christian, you know like I said he already came in here knowing the defense and all that because it’s a similar defense where he played in LA,” Wallace said after Tuesday’s training camp practice. “So it was no wasted steps with him and I love that.
“Great communication with us even like when we’re in between plays we always keep each other on the high end like ‘Yeah you got this we got that,’ so you know it’s really good.”
The Panthers have made additions to their defensive line for added strength this season. Derrick Brown returns from injury to join A’Shawn Robinson along with new signings Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton through free agency.
“It’s great to have that great a good D-line in front of us so just watching them play and all that sometimes I’ll be starstruck like ‘Oh boy them boys balling.’ But then have to get to the play like ‘Oh Trevor you playing ball.’ So you know it’s real good to have that,” Wallace said.
“Upfront (having DB back is) a lot of difference that’s a big dude and he can clobber a hole and do things that’s just crazy and it’s really good having that in front of you.”
As Wallace continues his development at middle linebacker for Carolina—with regular advice from both Kuechly and Thompson—he remains focused on growing into his expanded role.
