Former Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King is on an NFL roster.
The Carolina Panthers officially trimmed down to their initial 53-man group on Sunday, and King made the cut as QB3. It’s another example of former Texas A&M players finding homes as teams lock in their opening-day personnel.
There’s room for debate about how much of King’s rise is tied to his work at Georgia Tech versus what he showed in College Station, and the source of that belief is part of the conversation. Still, one fact is beyond dispute: King earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Texas A&M, so he’ll always have that Aggie connection, diploma included.
His roster case was ultimately made on the field. King put together a strong preseason even after a hamstring injury slowed him late in camp.
The biggest flash came in the Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals, where the former ACC Offensive Player of the Year delivered one of the summer’s most eye-catching rookie quarterback debuts. He finished with 219 total yards and three touchdowns, then sealed it with a walk-off touchdown run that turned heads around the league.
That kind of performance matters even more in today’s NFL, where finding a dependable backup has become critical. With so few true starting-caliber quarterbacks available, teams have to guard developmental passers with upside instead of risking them on waivers. King’s athleticism, processing, mobility and poise were enough to make that case.
For the moment, he’s an NFL quarterback. And he’s an Aggie who got there.
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