Monroe Freeling, the Carolina Panthers' first-round draft pick, has begun his NFL practice. The Mount Pleasant, South Carolina native was selected No. 19 overall in the NFL Draft.
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'Icebreaker': Panthers' first-round draft pick Monroe Freeling gets first taste of NFL practice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Monroe "Icebreaker" Freeling wanted to stay home.
The Carolina Panthers provided the opportunity, drafting the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, native No. 19 overall during the NFL Draft in April.
"You have to take everything with a grain of salt because I didn't know how this night was going to go," Freeling said on draft night.
When the Panthers called, Freeling described his first reaction: "No. way.
"It was surreal. It's still surreal. I don't even know if it's set in yet quite yet that I'm staying home and only a three-hour drive from (Charlotte)."
Suiting up for his first NFL practice Friday, reality set in for the former Georgia standout. The Panthers hosted 36 rookies and first-year free agents for the start of a three-day minicamp at the practice fields near Bank of America Stadium.
Freeling is serving as a roster icebreaker.
"I mean, when you put a bunch of people who haven't been around each other together for a the first time, the forced conversation," . "I think at breakfast I was around a couple of offensive linemen and no one was talking. I was like, 'All right, let's get an icebreaker going, tell me something about yourself, and something like that.
Monroe Freeling plays as an offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers.
Monroe Freeling was drafted by the Carolina Panthers as the No. 19 overall pick in the NFL Draft in April.
Monroe Freeling is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
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"I'm going to come in and be me."
Following his professional debut Friday, Freeling said he was learning more about his new teammates during the two-day minicamp. Many of those prospects likely will not be offered an opportunity to join the 91-man offseason roster after this weekend, but Freeling said he's enjoying his initial NFL experience.
On the field, Freeling continued to match up against second-round pick Lee Hunter. The two developed a friendly rivalry during the Senior Bowl.
Coach Dave Canales said he was entertained by the light-contact workout.
"Just a good head start," Canales said. "In this mode, we talk about practice is everything and this is where we make us and got to see a little glimpse of that today. Lee, he has a real sense for getting off on the snap, feeling the cadence right now and guys just learning to work together.
"We can play speed without the contact. I was really proud of the guys for the way they handled it today."
Good icebreaker.