Cat Scratch Reader
In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 32 for the Carolina Panthers.
Wallace (6’1”, 245 lbs) is a second year linebacker out of the University of Kentucky. The Georgia native stepped foot on Kentucky’s campus and played in all 12 games including one start as a true freshman. He consistently worked his way up the depth chart the next two seasons before finally becoming the full time starter as a junior. As a starter, Wallace notched 80 tackles (nine for loss), 5.5 sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble. Despite not turning 21 until February of 2024, Wallace declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and was selected by the Panthers in the third round, 72nd overall.
While the plan was for Wallace for take his time getting acclimated to the NFL, injuries to starters Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell forced the Panthers hands. Wallace ended up appearing in 13 games for the team, including eight starts at the inside linebacker position. He played quite well in his rookie campaign, including a breakout game against the Chicago Bears in Week 5. In that game, Wallace notched 15 total tackles including 10 solo stops while playing every single defensive snap. Unfortunately for Wallace, the injury bug at linebacker hit him as well near the end of the season, causing him to miss the final four games. With Shaq Thompson with the Buffalo Bills and Josey Jewell being released due to lingering concussion symptoms, Wallace is penciled in as one of the starters in the middle of the revamped Panthers defense this year.
The most recent Panther to don the 32 was Lonnie Johnson Jr last season. The defensive back was signed to a one year deal to play special teams. Perhaps the 32 with the most fan fare in Panthers history was Rod “He Hate Me” Smart. The XFL legend was a return man for the Panthers, and Bill Rosinski’s call of “He Hate Me, we love you” during Smart’s lone career kickoff return touchdown is one of the better calls I’ve ever heard. Fred Lane, from Lane college, also wore 32. He burst onto the scene with the Panthers as an undrafted rookie in 1997. His production dipped, and the team moved on just a couple years later.
