Panthers defensive end: ‘Great to be in the Carolinas’ for a second season

Growing up in Blythewood, S.C., Amaré Barno was among the contingent of Carolinians who were Cam Newton fans — not necessarily Panthers fans.

However, that would change when he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft to his local team. This came after Barno put up an incredibly impressive combine performance, running the fastest 40-yard dash time for a defensive end (4.36) at the event since 2003.

Last season, he contributed in nine games, both as a rotational piece on defense and as a member of the special teams unit. He collected nine tackles — two for loss — two special teams tackles and two sacks his rookie year, maintaining his spot on the team for a second go-around.

“It’s great being in the Carolinas,” he said. “It feels good to be out here.”

Barno wasn’t a hot commodity coming out of Westwood High School in Blythewood, just outside of Columbia. Despite notching 66 total tackles in an impressive senior year, he was lightly recruited, harboring no stars to his name, and chose to attend Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, to further his football career.

Whatever Division I attention he didn’t receive in high school, Barno received for his performance his second year at Butler in 2018. Then a sophomore linebacker, he amassed 5.9 tackles per game and 4.5 sacks on the season.

“I just knew I had to go in and go grind there, because some people don’t make it out of community college,” he said. “It’s not a place where you should just go have fun. You got to have your head on straight. That’s your last opportunity.”

He clearly made the most of his opportunity at Butler, eventually earning a spot at Virginia Tech. In his senior year there, he made the switch from linebacker to defensive end and put together his most impressive season up until that point.

Not a starter until the second half of that 2020 season, Barno managed to end the year leading all Power Five players and the ACC with 16 tackles for loss — part of a performance that resulted in All-ACC honorable mention recognition.

A Reese’s Senior Bowl invite after the 2021 season and a stellar combine performance on top of his efficient college career played a part in his move to the NFL in 2022, where Charlotte and the Panthers became his new home.

Now, in year two on the team, Barno has a fresh outlook on what he’ll take from training camp.

“Opening up more to hearing what other people have to say, not just the vets,” he said. “Even if it’s someone younger than me, if they have something to say and I think that makes a good idea, then maybe I should try that.”

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