By Alex Zietlow
The Carolina Panthers traded up in the second round and took someone they hope will be a playmaker on defense.
The franchise based in Charlotte, after trading up with the Denver Broncos to move from the No. 57 pick to the No. 51 pick, selected pass rusher Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M on Friday.
Scourton’s selection fills an immediate defensive need for the Panthers after the organization took Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 pick on Thursday evening.
Here are five things to know about the newest Panther.
Nic Scourton lost 28 pounds ahead of NFL Draft
If you should know anything about Scourton, it’s that he was a good pass rusher. That’s a position of need for a Panthers defense that struggled to get to the quarterback and impact the running game at the hashmarks in 2024.
The second thing?
He transformed his body the past few months.
Scourton was listed at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds when he arrived at Texas A&M — near his hometown of Bryan — in 2024, fresh off transferring after two seasons at Purdue. By his Pro Day in March, however, Scourton had slimmed down to 257 pounds.
His explanation for the weight loss was simple. It was less a deliberate effort propelled by special dieting, and more about establishing a mindful routine, he said.
It also wasn’t a directive from teams he met with during the draft process — it was just a desire to get his body “tighter” and healthier.
“After the first couple of games I was 275, left the season 275,” he said. “Kind of got to my trainer trying to get down to 260, and just was on a great nutrition plan, and learning how to eat right, and things of that nature. Getting the right amount of sleep. And having great resources in my facility and them educating was a big reason for my change in body.”
One of the youngest guys in the draft
One of the reasons Scourton offered for his weight loss, beyond establishing a better routine, was his age — how he’s growing into his body.
Scourton, after all, is 20 years old. That makes him one of the youngest guys in the NFL Draft. In fact, he was the second-youngest player at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. The only invitee younger than him was Dylan Sampson, a running back out of Tennessee.
He and Shemar Stewart had a 1-2 punch
Listing Scourton’s 2024 accolades is a lot. Among them: He was an All-SEC first-team selection and a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player of the year in college football.
He started all 12 regular-season games at defensive end and ranked third in the SEC with 14 tackles for loss and led the team with five sacks.
Still, he wasn’t the first Aggie defensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft this year. His teammate, Shemar Stewart, was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th overall pick after a less productive season than Scourton but a remarkable NFL Scouting Combine showing.
Loves a good spin move when rushing the QB
Scourton’s favorite players: Dwight Freeney. Aidan Hutchinson. Even former Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns.
One thing all these guys have in common? They each have a signature spin move, something Scourton loves.
One football comparison/aspiration: Brandon Graham, a two-time Super Bowl champion who retired with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025 and who was known for his leadership, relentlessness and versatility.
Another: Ty Warren, one of now 14 NFL players from Bryan, Texas — and the only other defensive lineman.
Scourton was also a hooper back in high school
Speaking of comparisons, there was another pro player Scourton offered up as a comparison after he was selected:
Draymond Green — though with a better post game, he said with a smile.
Scourton played basketball at Bryan High School in addition to being a highly touted football recruit. He said basketball transmuted a lot of skills — from footwork to conditioning — that he could use on the football field.
“On defense, I was dangerous against the point guard,” Scourton said. “I played at the top of all the presses. I would run the court. But on offense, I guess I was the center. ... I kind of just set screens and got rebounds. But I think it helped me a lot, actually.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM.
Alex Zietlow
The Charlotte Observer
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned five APSE Top 10 distinctions, most recently in the Long Features category in 2024. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription
