Baylor RB Josh Cameron was asked by The Charlotte Observer about his "why" for the game of football. The Carolina Panthers ask the same question during the draft process. By Mike Kaye| The Charlotte Observer
The Panthers want to know what drives a player to compete on the biggest stage.
Carolina’s evaluators are searching for answers to several questions ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. At the top of the list: Why does a prospect want to play in the NFL?
Internally, the answer to that question is called “the why,” and it’s an essential part of the scouting process.
“Finding out his ‘why’ is like you’re finding out his motivation to play football at a high level,” director of college scouting Jared Kirksey told The Charlotte Observer in January. “Those are just buttons to push.”
With “the why” being so integral to the Panthers’ draft evaluations, The Observer polled several running back and wide receiver prospects during last month’s NFL Scouting Combine to understand their outlooks on entering the draft:
Michigan FB Max Bredeson
“I love winning. I’ve gotten to be part of like a great team — a lot of great teams — got to win a lot of games. Something I take really special to me, something that my dad taught me, is thinking about yourself in five years, (and) thinking about yourself five years ago. It means a lot (to) me to think about myself five years ago, and I know he’d be proud of me standing right here.
“Then, I also know that myself five years in the future is looking at me right now, making sure I’m doing all the right things to put him in the best situation possible.”
Baylor WR Josh Cameron
“My ‘why’ — first starting off with — has to be the brotherhood of playing football. There’s no game like it, where — I guess, it’s a little different now — but in college, it’s 100-someodd guys coming together in a short time, and looking to be the best, on the field, each and every Saturday. So, it’s just kind of that same mindset going into the league. You’ve got 53 guys coming in at a time, and really just trying to be as cohesive as possible, and you make 50 new friends, kind of, each season. ... So, I think that’s the coolest part about it.
“And then, really, I just do this for my mom as well. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She went into cardiac arrest for 20 minutes back in 2024. But she’s doing great now — like I said, she wasn’t supposed to be here. She’s the reason I got to go to Baylor, just running my Twitter accounts and sending emails to all the coaches and all that stuff. I really just do it for her as well.”
Baylor Bears wide receiver Josh Cameron reacts after catching a pass for a first down during the third quarter against the Utah Utes at McLane Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Sam Hodde Getty Images
Washington RB Jonah Coleman
“Cause I love the game. I love the game. I’m genuinely obsessed with the game. I’m probably one of those guys that would play football if there was no money involved. I love the game.”
Missouri WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
“I’ve got a few ‘whys.’ ... I always wanted to be the best — want to be a Hall of Famer, want to win a Super Bowl. Besides them two, my mom. My mom’s my ‘why.’ At a young age, I watched the death of my brother, my mom get diagnosed with lupus, and just to watch her pain and her hurt, that’s my ‘why.’”
Ohio State RB CJ Donaldson
“You ever heard of a movie called ‘Little Giants’? So, you’ve got the Ice Box, right? It was a scene where she was being a cheerleader, she wasn’t like on the field playing. I kind of had that same feeling where like, if I’m not playing the game, I’m not even involved in the game, it kind of like hurts my heart that I’m not playing. So, definitely, that movie alone, like stuck with me forever.”
Ohio State Buckeyes running back CJ Donaldson runs with the ball against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Alex Slitz Getty Images
Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich
“Born and raised in Pittsburgh, football’s the thing there. Everyone is brought up a Steelers fan and talks about football there. And so I think that’s the biggest thing, is that it started at a young age — started playing football when I was 5 years old — so I’ve been doing it for a long time now. But I think the biggest thing that’s kind of carried me forward is I love to compete. I think football is the best sport for that. Go out there and kind of win your individual rep each time. Each play is a competition. So, for me, I just love to go out and compete and get better.”
SMU WR Jordan Hudson
“Just my family — my son, my upbringing, where I came from. Just showing the people in the neighborhood that anything is possible. It don’t matter where you come from, what’s your story — just that anything is possible.”
Southern Methodist wide receiver Jordan Hudson catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Louisville defensive back Jabari Mack during the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Stacy Revere Getty Images
Pittsburgh RB Desmond Reid
“Football is something I love. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was young. I never looked at it for no money — I just love playing football. Football takes my mind off a lot of stuff. Going through family issues or any issues off the field, as soon as I walk into the facility and play football, my mind it totally off that. I’m back happy, and, you know, so football did a lot for me growing up.”
Penn State RB Nick Singleton
“I would just say my family and just the game, man. Like I love the game so much. I’ve been playing it ever since I was young. Flag football up until now, so just enjoying the process. And my family, too, especially my parents. They’ve been there every step of the way for me. Holding me accountable, taking me everywhere — food, go to work out and all of that. So, that’s why I do it.”
Penn State running back Nick Singleton speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Michael Hickey Getty Images
Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor
“My ‘why’ would be future family. My ‘why’ would be my siblings that I have. My ‘why’ would also be, you know, just take advantage of the opportunity that’s given to me, cause my thing is, opportunity is never taken away, it’s always taken by somebody else. So, if you get it, take it and run with it.”
Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.
“My ‘why’ is for my people back at home. I’m from Upstate New York. Not a lot of people make it from the city I’m from — Utica, New York. So, really, just showing everybody from back at home that you can be from a city like Utica and still make it out, whether it’s being a professional athlete or, really, just getting your degree.”