INDIANAPOLIS -- The Carolina Panthers, the only team in the NFC South with an unsettled quarterback situation, have their eyes on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.
The Panthers own the top pick in the draft, and Thursday at the NFL scouting combine, coach Ron Rivera didn't rule out selecting Newton, a graduate of Westlake High School.
"We do believe we have to have a franchise quarterback [who can] lead [our] team for the next six, seven or eight years," Rivera said. "We certainly believe that. Do you have to take that guy or is he on our roster right now? That’s all part of our evaluation process."
Jimmy Clausen was the Panthers' starting quarterback last season, but he struggled mightily. Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Josh Freeman are all performing well for the Falcons, Saints and Buccaneers, respectively.
Newton won the Heisman Trophy last season and guided the Tigers to the BCS national championship.
In 14 games at Auburn, he completed 185 of 280 passes (66 percent) for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He also ran for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns out of their spread offense.
"As far as skill-set goes, the young man has tremendous talent," Rivera said. "He has natural size, can run and has a tremendous arm. He’s got a good pocket presence already. I think he’s well on his way."
The Panthers want to know how Newton processes information.
"We will go through that whole process to try to get a feel for how he learns," said Rivera, who interviewed for the Falcons' head coaching position before they hired Bobby Petrino in 2007. "There are several guys we will go through that process with as well."
Rackley grew into frame
Coming out of Riverdale High, Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley was lightly recruited.
"Georgia Tech recruited me for a little bit, but it wasn't serious," Rackley said.
He was a 6-foot-2, 260-pound lineman with good grades and attracted interest from Lehigh, Lafayette and Colgate. Over the past four years, he has has grown an inch and added almost 50 pounds. He now is considered a solid NFL prospect.
"I'm just here to prove myself as a player," Rackley said. "I just want to prove that [FCS, formerly Division I-AA] guys can play on the [FBS, formerly Division I-A] level. Playing football is playing football."
The Philadelphia Eagles hold their training camp on Lehigh's campus in Bethlehem, Pa.
"I used to go out there every morning and watch them practice," Rackley said. "I was fortunate enough to get a field pass."
Yates' arm strength
North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates told the story about how he became a Tar Heel.
North Carolina's linebackers coach visited Pope High and was looking at some linebackers, but Yates kept dazzling him. By the end of week Yates had an offer from North Carolina.
Before that, Yates had a few basketball scholarship offers, but nothing for football. He went on to set 37 school records at North Carolina.
He said he wants to show off his arm strength and that he can make the intermediate throws.
Yates never considered trying to play basketball at North Carolina.
"Oh no, that's much higher level of basketball," Yates said.
Boling's streak
Georgia offensive lineman Clint Boling finished his career with 49 straight starts.
"It was just not all skill," said Boling, who played at Chattahoochee High and is represented by Atlanta agent Pat Dye Jr. "I got lucky with some injuries. I was injury free."
He played right guard, right tackle and left tackle for the Bulldogs. His versatility served him well at the Senior Bowl, where he played both guard and tackle. He played some center in practice, but never in a game and can shotgun snap.
“NFL teams aren’t traveling 15 linemen,” Boling said. “They are dressing out seven or eight guys, so you have to be able to play multiple positions. I think doing that in school is going to help me.”
Carpenter's tools
Alabama offensive tackle James Carpenter officially was measured at 6-foot, 4 1/2 inches and weighed 321 pounds.
He originally committed to Iowa State coming out of Hephzibah High School, but was an academic non-qualifier and ended up at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
Fox on Tebow
Denver coach John Fox said that Kyle Orton is the Broncos' starting quarterback.
"We've got a very young guy, a high draft pick in Tim Tebow who got his feet wet last year toward the end of the season." Fox said. "He did an outstanding job. He's got some of the intangibles you're looking for."
There were recent reports that Orton was on the trading block.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's under contract, and he's our starting quarterback," Fox said.
