Lee Hunter

I knew I'd get drafted on Day 2 when I didn't get called on Day 1. I'm like, OK, somebody will call me. So, I woke up and went to find something to wear because I had a feeling I was going to go on Day 2. I had a Louis Vuitton shirt, and I got some boots made, and I just got some shorts from Dillard's.

The Panthers actually had the wrong number on file for me, so they were calling the old number, and they contacted my agent. He told me the Panthers called, and I was like, I knew it. I was so excited; I wanted to be a Panther. I was happy as crap when I heard it was Carolina. I had a feeling too.

I hadn't come on a visit here, but I met with them at the combine. But I knew.

I wanted to be a Panther because I saw the D-line room, the vets. You want to go somewhere as a young guy that you can learn from, with some great vets, just by watching their tape. So I felt like I would fit in well as a Panther.

I've been a Derrick Brown fan since my 10th grade year. He helped recruit me at Auburn. He called me 'Old country boy.'

For like four days in a row, I told myself, dang, I'm in the NFL. It was mind-blowing, but it was bliss. At the same time, guys before you who went to different colleges wanted the opportunity; some succeeded, some didn't, so all that crossed my mind.

I'm like, damn, it's a blessing, and I want to keep living this blessing and keep providing for the people I love in Panther Nation.

First day in pads for me is like, let me see how good I really am. Let me see what I need to work on just by going against guys like Robert Hunt, D-Lew (Damien Lewis) , and all the other guys on the offensive side.

This is a technician's game, and when you go up against some guys who've been doing it for six, seven-plus years, that technique matters. So just taught me to stay on my technique, stay on the little things, the vertical steps and all the things and all aspects.

Then, I got so much respect for DB. He's one of the highest paid, better defense tackles in the league, and just getting to know him — take the fan stuff out of the way — I learned from him on and off the field, like when it comes to being a dad, he's married, a husband, I asked him stuff like what he does for his parents, and he gives me feedback.

Bobby Brown III talks a lot about pass rush. Bobby gives me a lot of pass-rush game and those aspects. And Turk (Tershawn Wharton) Turk's one of the guys I do the instruments with, like we go lift weights in the weight room. Turk's my dog. He's got two Super Bowls. I think he knows what he's talking about. I watched this film, and Turk's a dog. He's just one of them guys that wants guys to know what he's talking about too, and I respect Turk. I enjoy being around him, and he's goofy.

After plays, I'm probably talking, and it doesn't look like I'm talking, but I'm calm and laughing at the same time. But it's just football; sometimes people get upset about the things you do, and sometimes you get upset by the things people do.

I get upset every day because I want to be great at what I do. In some places, my technique might be bad, so I for sure get upset. And I for sure get upset when I lose. I get upset if I feel like somebody is being too soft. That'll make me mad if somebody is being too soft and not giving me their best so I can see what they work on. But I don't feel like we got no soft guys here.

I want to be physical. D-lines are physical, and I think if you beat up somebody the whole game or somebody beats up you the whole game, in the fourth quarter, the person who's been getting beat up is going to bend.

During the first game, I know I'm going to have the chills at first, but I really wanna kick ass. That's on my mind. I want to kick ass.

I want to show that I can play on this dominant level. I'll probably fall down a few times, but I'm going to get back up. I want to beat the person more than he beat me throughout the game.

I think it was in elementary school, fourth grade; my teacher asked me what I wanted to be, and I said an NFL player. When I entered college at Auburn, then left for UCF, I started getting the feel of the game and learning how to watch film and all aspects. I realized I had a shot at going to the NFL if I kept doing what I'm doing, doing the extra, staying on top of my craft, just doing what I do on the field, staying out of trouble, and keeping the right people around me.

Love on your people, and you have a shot to go to the NFL.

And I did it.

As told to Kassidy Hill, Panthers.com.