Hart, Davis and Rucker were named all-conference last season. Other than South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett, there were the only wide receivers and tight ends on the first- or second-teams who received the honor that weren’t seniors.

Who could be the next Panthers wide receiver to step up, just like Hart did last year in being named the conference’s newcomer of the year?

The first candidate is not new to the team, but should see a lot more playing time this season: tight end Ari Werts. A matchup problem because of the combination of his size (6-4, 225 pounds), speed and hands, Werts should play a much bigger part in the offense this season after catching five passes for 84 yards as a freshman last year.

Some of the players have talked up Jonathan Ifedi, a freshman from Charlotte, N.C., where he was all-conference at Vance High School. He caught 23 touchdown passes his final two seasons and totaled nearly 1,800 yards receiving.

Ifedi has size (6-0, 195 pounds) that’s similar to Davis when he enrolled. Ifedi enrolled for the Spring semester, so he has a jump on learning the playbook and developing chemistry with whomever wins the quarterback competition.

The coaching staff definitely looked for a certain body type among its freshmen wide receivers.

Joining Ifedi are Jawan Nobles (6-3, 180), Eric Elder (6-0, 185), Bryson Duckworth (6-4, 215) and Matlin Marshall (5-9, 190).

Football A-to-Z series

Less than a minute with…

Other stuff