Austin Proehl isn’t under an official contract with the Carolina Panthers, at least not yet. But he didn’t have to be to speak about Charlotte’s desire for a champion.
The son of former Panthers wideout, offensive assistant and receivers coach Ricky Proehl—who was invited as a tryout player for this weekend’s rookie minicamp—spoke with reporters following Saturday’s session. And he knows, from the past experiences with his father, that the Carolinas deserve better fortune on the field.
“I spent a lot of time here,” Proehl said. “A lot of days, a lot of nights. Whether he was coaching or playing—it was pretty cool being in the stands, being on the sidelines. When me and my brother were ball boys here, it was just cool. A lot of the guys are the same. And this city deserves a great team, a winning team. And I think Coach [Frank] Reich and his staff they brought in here are gonna bring that to this city. I think what they’re doing here is special.”
Proehl, who was born in Charlotte on Oct. 11, 1995, is all too familiar with the Queen City. Not only did he go on to attend nearby Providence High School, but he also played his college ball at the University of North Carolina.
And now, coming off a season in the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks (and dad), he’s hoping to get back to his roots in the area as a signee for Reich and the Panthers.
