Marquan McCall inks free agent deal with Carolina Panthers

Marquan McCall is officially a Carolina Panther. The former Kentucky Wildcat wasn’t a free agent lock before signing with the NFC South franchise.

Bully was the protege of Quinton Bohanna, who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round with the 192nd pick.

An enforcer in the middle of the UK defensive line, Brad White’s unit struggled to stop the run when McCall was absent for four games with an ankle injury. That was a better reflection of McCall’s impact than the nose guard’s stats. He still posted 57 tackles, 10.0 for loss, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup throughout his Kentucky career.

A former four-star recruit from Detroit, Bully quickly became a beloved member of the BBN. His animated antics were entertaining, but they help him back through the first few years of his career. When Bohanna was sidelined by an injury in 2020, White saw McCall mature overnight. He carried that with him into his senior season, propelling him into the NFL Draft.

“Probably the biggest change from a freshman to where he is now as a senior as anyone on the defensive roster from a maturity standpoint…” White said of McCall last offseason. “He knows this is his opportunity, his shot.” Bully did not throw away his shot.