The 'Sky is the Limit' for Jonathan Mingo, 'He's Everything We Thought'
Former Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo isn't only the most intriguing rookie in the Carolina Panthers' draft haul (not named Bryce Young), but possibly the entire draft class.
He possesses freakish athleticism with a build that reminds you of former Ole Miss receivers A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf. Okay, maybe not quite like Metcalf, but you get the point. He's big, fast, and strong, and can be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses because of his ability to lineup in a variety of different spots on the field.
Mingo certainly impressed the Panthers' front office with what they saw on film but the final stamp of approval was his thirty visit prior to the draft. They fell in love with his personality and passion for the game and it wasn't just "for show." It was the real Mingo.
"He was everything we thought in the interview process, at the combine, and here on the 30 visit. He's intact," Panthers wide receiver coach Shawn Jefferson said. "Very mature for his age. Very smart. He picks things up well. He's a fast processor. So, everything right now that we saw throughout the whole process is on par with what we're seeing. He's tough. He fits our offense perfect and I'm excited for this kid. He's one of those kids that can't get enough. Late nights and stuff like that. He'll give you a text like 'Hey, I need to go over this real quick' and he wants to know. We talk about in our room find out before you get found out and he's doing a lot of finding right now. The sky is the limit for this kid. I'm just blessed to be working with him."
There's a lot of work ahead for Mingo before we can truly throw him in the same conversation as Metcalf and Brown but the traits are there, the ability is there, and most importantly, the drive is there. If it comes to fruition, he and Bryce Young could develop into one of the game's most dynamic connections in the NFL.
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