Both Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson have acted as mentors for the rising sophomore
Despite being just a third round pick, Trevin Wallace got a lot of hype entering his rookie season after a strong camp and a very strong preseason. The hype didn’t quite materialize into production over the full 18 week season, but the Carolina Panthers and their fans still have hype for the rising sophomore linebacker.
They’re not alone in that either. A pair of former all time great Panthers linebackers have taken on roles as mentors for Wallace. Shaq Thomspon, who is now with the Buffalo Bills, still talks to Wallace every day. He knows that the Panthers have a storied history at the linebacker position, and he makes sure to remind Wallace of that and that he can be the next player added to a list that includes Sam Mills, Dan Morgan, Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly, and Thompson.
And Thompson isn’t the only name from that list on Wallace’s speed dial. The second year linebacker said in his press conference on Tuesday that he and Luke Kuechly also talk almost every day. The future Hall of Famer has provided Wallace with advice on coming back from the shoulder injury that he suffered late in the season and had surgery on in the offseason. He’s also gotten tips from both linebackers on being more vocal and being a leader, and he seems to take all of that to heart.
It wouldn’t be a true Panthers team if there wasn’t a great linebacker roaming the middle of the field. The greats of the past seem to feel that Trevin Wallace is the next one to assume that mantle.