Panthers rookie camp: Peoples among 14 undrafted rookies looking to prove themselves

Last month, 259 prospects were selected in the NFL Draft. Eighteen of the those prospects were running backs.

Appalachian State running back Camerun Peoples wasn’t among that group. But the 23-year-old was able to latch on with the Panthers shortly after the draft with a contract agreement.

Peoples is one of 14 undrafted free agents set to take part in Friday’s rookie minicamp — pending a passed physical — and he will be on the field just like the five members of Carolina’s draft class.

Peoples will take handoffs from the first overall pick, quarterback Bryce Young. He will run routes alongside second-round pick, wideout Jonathan Mingo, as fourth-round pick, guard Chandler Zavala, works in pass protection. He will also try to outrun the likes of third-round pick, edge rusher DJ Johnson, and fifth-round pick, defensive back Jammie Robinson, in drills.

Peoples didn’t see his name cross the television screen during draft weekend, but that only created motivation that he hopes to use as a driving force in his NFL career.

“As the draft came to a conclusion, the chip on my shoulder got a lot heavier,” Peoples said. “It was just something where I sunk in and it was like, ‘Wherever I end up and whoever I end up with, they’re gonna get a completely different player than they’ve ever seen before out of me. I’m not going to be the same player that I was in college. ... I’m going to be a monster of a man when I touch the field.’

“And for Carolina to call me after that draft, (there) wasn’t any hesitation in my mind. I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m there, I’m all in and they’re going to get an absolute beast and the chip on my shoulder is super heavy.’”

Peoples ran for 2,830 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns during his five-year college career with the Mountaineers. The 6-foot-1, 217-pound running back averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry, despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2019 during his red-shirt freshman season.

Peoples also earned an invite to the annual Senior Bowl all-star game in Mobile, Alabama, in January. In February, at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash and posted a 37-inch vertical and a 10’1” broad jump.

And while those numbers didn’t lead to a draft selection, his performance during his college career and the pre-draft process earned him a contract offer from Carolina.

“For me, it was, whoever wanted me is where I wanted to be,” Peoples said. “And Carolina gave me a call as soon as the draft was over — like a minute or two after the draft — and I was stoked about the opportunity.”

The Lineville, Alabama, native is built differently than the rest of the running back depth chart in Carolina. He looks more like D’Onta Foreman — who recently left for Chicago in free agency — than Chuba Hubbard or Raheem Blackshear.

So, in theory, Peoples could fill the ground-and-pound void left by Foreman, as free-agent addition, Miles Sanders, looks to take on the bulk of the touches out of the backfield.

“I’ve watched those guys, and they’re all super talented,” Peoples said. “I’m definitely coming in as probably one of the bigger guys, size-wise, and I definitely have a different skill set than those guys. But I’m also looking forward to learning under (them). Like Miles Sanders, he’s a beast, and I watched him all last season with the Eagles and he’s just such an amazing player. And you got Chuba there, who was a beast in college and last year was very productive. I’m just really excited to just put in some work and learn from them, but also bring a different dynamic to the game.”

Along with earning snaps on offense, Peoples will need to prove himself on special teams. Most undrafted players have to stand out in the third phase to make the roster out of training camp.

“I’m honestly very excited to get the opportunity to play on special teams,” Peoples said. “It’s something that I’ve always looked at as that’s where they put their athletes and the guys who they feel like deserve a little playing time and, and can get out there and make plays and help change the game. And special teams is definitely where you can change the game.”

As Peoples looks ahead to his first NFL minicamp, the rookie running back wants to show he belongs as a professional. He isn’t going to let his undrafted status define his career, even if there are plenty of examples of overlooked players who have proven to themselves worthy of high honors.

Like all the rest of the rookies set to practice outside of Bank of America Stadium, Peoples is hoping this weekend is the start of a long professional journey.

“There’s a lot of stories of undrafted guys who made great careers for themselves, and I’m going to be one of those guys that — God-willing — I play in this league for a very long time,” Peoples said. “And I’m going to do everything that I can to help the Panthers get to where we need to be.”

Panthers rookie class

First round (first overall): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Second round (39th overall): Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Third round (80th overall): DJ Johnson, Edge, Oregon

Fourth round (114th overall): Chandler Zavala, G, N.C. State

Fifth round (145th overall): Jammie Robinson, DB, Florida State

Undrafted free agents

J.D. DiRenzo, OT, Rutgers (officially signed Thursday)

Camerun Peoples, RB, Appalachian State

John Vann, WR, South Carolina

Eku Leota, Edge, Auburn

Travez Moore, Edge, Arizona State

Ricky Lee, OT, North Carolina A&T

Nash Jensen, G, North Dakota State

Jalen Redmond, DL, Oklahoma

Austin Ajiake, LB, UNLV

Bumper Pool, LB, Arkansas (officially signed Thursday)

Mark Milton, CB, Baylor (officially signed Thursday)

Colby Richardson, CB, LSU

Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State

Nick Bolden, S, Kent State

* Undrafted players who weren’t officially signed Thursday are expected to join the team — pending passed physicals — on Friday.