Already, Bryce Young is several things to the Carolina Panthers. 

Rookie prospect, locker room galvanizer, subtle leader, and humble pupil, but on Tuesday, as Young answered questions regarding his nervousness for the start of his NFL career and the season full of expectations ahead, he remained unfazed. It's not shocking, Young played for three seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama, a program that has become synonymous with winning. 

Still, Young managed to emit an aura of confidence that didn't border on arrogance. His smile, his assurance in his answers, and his approach felt genuine, lacking the bravado and showmanship that runs rampant through much of the NFL. 

One question appeared to spark Young's interest — it dealt with expectations. David Tepper, the team's owner, is desperate for a winning season. It's been six years in the making. The last time the Panthers made the playoffs Julius Peppers had 11 sacks and Cam Newton started 16 games. Young is the quarterback supposed to change that fate. And he isn't focused or phased by the pressure. He's used to it. 

“I guess having lofty expectations isn’t something new. I took the same approach in college. I’ve always taken the same approach,” Young said. “Whatever expectations are, whatever people are talking about, it is what it is. It’s stuff I can’t control.”

But, to the point of the Panthers being doubted, projected to win somewhere between six and eight games in most media outlets, Young is ready to prove those people wrong. 

Derrick Brown, the Panthers' defensive tackle, held the same confidence in the team surpassing public expectations with a new quarterback and a head coach known as the quarterback whisperer. 

“I don’t think very many people give us a chance at the beginning of the year to do much of anything," he said. “Going out here and proving folks wrong, I think that’s the only message that the team’s got right now… Like they say about a snake, man, it won’t bite you ’til you see it.”

If Young is the head of the snake, the Panthers may be ready to bite. 

NFC South up for grabs: Panthers will try to claim the division as their own

There is a noticeable optimism with the Carolina Panthers.

Panthers accomplished a wild feat in 2022 that no team had accomplished in over 5 years

The Carolina Panthers accomplished a wild feat in 2022 that no team had accomplished in over 5 years

Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.