Cat Scratch Reader
There are 27 days left until the start of the Carolina Panthers 2025 schedule, so today’s countdown piece is about number 27 in your program, cornerback Shemar Bartholomew.
Before the Panthers
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound cornerback took the road less traveled in his journey to the NFL. He began his college career at Northwestern State in 2018. In 2021 he was named Second-Team All-Southland Conference as a defensive back. But in 2022 he played just one game and ended up redshirting in what was his fifth college season, including the COVID-shortened 2020 year.
In 2023 he transferred to Georgia Southern and was named Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference that year with 38 tackles and 14 passes defended.
He went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the New York Jets but was released at roster cutdowns last August. The Panthers immediately claimed him off waivers.
His role with the Carolina Panthers
In his 2024 rookie season with the Panthers last year, Bartholomew appeared in five games with 17 defensive snaps and 34 on special teams. He recorded three tackles last year, including a tackle for loss, and was credited with two passes defended.
Per Football Reference he was targeted six times in coverage last year and gave up three receptions and a touchdown.
Bartholomew is currently listed as a third-string corner on the Panthers depth chart. Given the fact that he got some run with the defense last year, is entering his second season in the Panthers defensive scheme, and the team is pretty light on cornerback depth, he’ll likely stick around for another year at least on the practice squad if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster.
