Bryce Young is out to prove Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich right after being named the team's starting quarterback.
Young, 21, was selected number one overall in April's draft and has received the expected elevation to starter after attending two weeks of workouts over this offseason. Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, whom the franchise signed to a two-year contract the month before picking Young, has been beginning drills with the first unit during the first fortnight of OTAs.
That will no longer be the case now that Young is, as anticipated, listed as the starter. All three of last season's starting quarterbacks - Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker - are no longer on the roster.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner will have been expecting such a move but has admitted it is something you must earn rather than be entitled to. Young's first game reps to prove it is merited will come during next month's three-game pre-season slate.
"For me, it's about earning it," Young said via ESPN. "I'm grateful to have the opportunity that I have. I still think it's a process. I'm grateful to be accepted by the team. It's an amazing locker room, a great group of guys. I want to continue with that. It's not something you're just entitled to."
Coach Reich has admitted that this is all down to getting the rookie ready for the season starting. "It's just the next step," he said. "We had a couple of weeks to watch Andy. Andy has continued to perform at a very high level.
"We're just trying to get our team ready. Everything is about what's best for our team, and so this was just the next step."
Reich also addressed Young's timeline: "We could have shifted it, we could have moved it up," he admitted. "I really didn't want to move it up because I thought things were going the way we wanted.
"At the end of last week, I pulled Bryce aside and Andy and just said, 'Hey, we talked about this from the beginning. You guys are doing it exactly like we wanted. We're gonna make this switch and move forward.'"
It is apparent that Young is on track in the eyes of the coach. But Reich is not ready to confirm that the starting role will remain the rookie's at this stage of the process.
"He's showing everything you want to see," he said. "But this goes back to even the draft decision. We don't have to make a decision until you have to make it.
"So, we'll just keep giving him, and our team, the opportunity to get better and to earn that starting role. So far, he and a lot of guys have taken the step needed to earn that spot."
The Panthers open the season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, 10 September.
