Preseason games may not count toward the official standings, but for an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot, every snap feels like a championship game. For Panthers quarterback Haynes King, Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game provided exactly the kind of platform he needed to turn heads. King delivered a commanding performance in Canton, completing 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns without committing a single turnover or taking a sack. The highlight of the evening came as time expired, when King scrambled for a dramatic game winning touchdown run that sent his teammates into a frenzy on the sidelines.
For the twenty five year old former Georgia Tech star, the setting was just as significant as the statistics. Playing in Ohio during enshrinement weekend meant sharing space with some of the greatest legends to ever play the sport. King admitted after the game that seeing first ballot Hall of Famers walking right in front of him was surreal. He described the experience of showcasing his skills in their presence as a dream come true, noting that those names were figures he had admired since childhood.
Despite being named the ACC Player of the Year last season, King entered the league as an underdog who went undrafted due to concerns that he relied too heavily on his legs rather than his arm. However, his poise under center on Thursday suggested he can do both effectively. King expressed confidence in how he managed the offense, stating that he felt he operated at a high level while elevating the play of everyone around him.
Head coach Dave Canales was quick to praise King’s tenacity and athletic ability following the victory. Canales noted that King simply finds ways to win and emphasized how proud he was to see the entire team celebrate together after such a hard fought finish. While it is still early in the preseason process, King has certainly made sure that neither his coaches nor any visiting legends will forget his name anytime soon.
