CHARLOTTE— The Carolina Panthers seven man rookie draft class has experienced a whirlwind over the past month. Since NFL draft weekend, rookies have moved to Charlotte, gone through rookie minicamp and OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and have now returned to the Queen City for training camp.

As the rookie draft class works through their first offseason, each will take time to reflect on their journey to this point and their time in the league thus far. Three rookies took us along through OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and now the rest of the class will take us along through training camp.

Next up is tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders. The Texas Longhorns alum and Texas native was drafted by the Panthers in the 4th round (No. 101 overall).

"Draft night was a surreal experience, just knowing that all the hard work I've put into this game since I started playing, it's finally paid off. That was my dream, to become an athlete in the NFL, where the best of the best play at and now I'm here. I'm thankful every day I get to play the game I love so much.

"Family, friends, my closest homeboy since we were little kids, were all there. So, it was just a great thing. I got to say my brothers (went the most nuts), my brothers have been childhood friends because they've been with me since day one. We done played football in high school together and then even little kid football. They done see me grow and develop as a man and as a football player as well. I think they might have been more excited than I was.

"I talked to (Texas and now Panthers teammate Jonathan Brooks) the same day. Me and him go way back, we came into college together. As soon as I see Jonathan Brooks, I called, I was like, 'Man, hey, it's your time, man.' Then when I found out we were going to the same team, he called me. So, it was just even a better experience."

Following the draft, rookies arrived in Charlotte over the next few days. From late nights studying their new playbook, to early mornings learning the logistics of playing in the NFL, Sanders and the rookie class received a lot of information in a short amount of time. For those coming from certain systems however, like Sanders, keeping up was slightly easier.

"Arriving for rookie minicamp was definitely exciting. I kind of felt like I was one step ahead just coming from the type of offense I came from with Sark (Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian). He was an OC in the NFL for Atlanta Falcons. And then his style of offense is kind of similar to ours. So it wasn't too much harder. It's just more the details and the details on a route or the details on a certain play that really matter."

Dave Canales has said since arriving that he wants to implement a bevy of tight ends into his offense, and is putting a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. Canales even said following Back Together Saturday, "We put a lot on those guys plates. I would say quarterback definitely has the most, tight ends probably right behind that, because of their connection to the run game, pass game and pass protection. So we really asked them to do a lot." It's a responsibility that Sanders feels the room is ready for. And now that they're in training camp, the playbook is becoming more and more real for the unit.

"When you look at tight ends, we're starting to become a QB's best friend. The pass game for one and then we have to do everything when it comes to run game, pass blocking, pass protection. So, you got to have a great group of tight ends. I feel like we have a great room, exceptional guys, guys with a lot of experience like Ian (Thomas), J Mac (Jordan Matthews), Stephen (Sullivan) Sully, even Tommy has a lot of experience and they've been doing this for a while. So, I can't wait to see how much fun we have during the season.

"It's kind of the same, it's definitely different as far as the details part of it, honing in on the details, because that's what really starts to show up. OTAs was just putting base things in and fall camp is really where you come in and put those things into play. First day of pads, a lot of things came up. So it was really fun."

There are lots of moments that can be eye-opening after entering the league. For some, it's that first big hit in practice. For others, it's the first time they run out of the tunnel on game day. For Sanders, it was another life changing moment completely.

"Honestly, probably when that signing bonus hit. I had a little bit of NIL money from college, but it was nothing compared to the signing bonus money that I got."

Teammate Eku Leota interjected, guessing what Sanders spent his signing bonus on saying, "I actually think he was smart with it invested."

"I do have a financial advisor. Some of it definitely got invested. But I bought my second car. I got a 2023 Durango Hellcat. I was supposed to have it pre-draft, but something came up with the dealership. So as soon as I had the funds to do that, I made it happen. So a couple of days after that signing bonus hit, I got it. The two cars I have, have been my dream cars. So, I got a scat pack and a Durango. One's a Charger, one's a SUV. And those two are my dream car. So, to have them, I can't be more thankful."

Going from college to the NFL can be a big change in a number of ways. One of the biggest for rookies is the difference in living together, attending classes together, etc., to losing some of those bonding experiences. The Panthers have looked to create those moments though in other ways, from the race track (visiting Hendrick Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway) to the meeting room.

"The NASCAR experience, man, that was crazy. That was a crazy experience. I never knew the racetracks had that steep curve to it and then when I went up on it, my heart dropped. It was crazy.

"But the chemistry, I think it starts out here. It really starts in the building and translates out here. It's really no different than college. We're still brothers, we're still a family, we're all together as one and we play for each other. We want to be selfless, not selfish. So, I think it definitely starts out here and translates to here."