Panthers position battles: Who starts at cornerback opposite Donte Jackson?

Now, Matt Rhule is telling reporters there is an open competition for the position.

Troy Pride

Troy Pride Jr.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Pride Jr. (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) comes into the competition as the youngest of the candidates. Although the rookie lacks NFL experience, he has already proven to the coaching staff he has what it takes to make a splash in the league.

In four seasons at Notre Dame, Pride Jr. lit up the field with 121 tackles, 18 passes defended, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. A lot of these plays can be credited to his speed, which ranked fifth among defensive backs in the 2020 draft class and helped him to run a 4.40 at the 2020 NFL combine.

At the Panthers Fan Fest-esque practice at the Bank of America Stadium about a week ago, Pride Jr. was wearing a black jersey, meaning he’s on pace to be a starter if the season began today. However, Pride’s size is a concern if he’s playing outside, especially in a division stacked with some of the best (and biggest) receivers in the league. That’s why he has been seeing reps at nickel cornerback, too,and the black jersey might mean we see him in the slot Week 1.