He's only 25 years old. He's been a Carolina Panther for less than a month.

Yet Antwan Applewhite has suddenly become an integral part of the defense, playing the parts of end, linebacker, special-teamer and alter ego for coach Ron Rivera.

Applewhite's most obvious on-field impact came Sunday during the first quarter against Washington, when on back-to-back plays he deflected a pass and then made a sack that led to a lost fumble by Redskins quarterback John Beck.

His off-field impact has been just as striking. Because of the four years he spent with Rivera in San Diego, the coach trusts Applewhite's instincts deeply and already relies on him more than you would expect.

"The biggest thing is he understands what I'm looking for," Rivera said. "He's been my go-to guy the last couple of weeks in terms of seeing what else we need to do. What am I not doing? What did I do in San Diego that I need to do here? He's been great - a great sounding board."

Said Applewhite of Rivera: "I've been in his system for awhile now. I know what he likes to do, how he likes to attack and what he expects from his defense."

Applewhite started 13 games for San Diego last season when Rivera was the defensive coordinator for a unit that ranked No. 1 in the NFL in yards allowed. But the Chargers released him after Rivera left.

He caught on with San Francisco, but didn't make the team. He was out of football for about a month before the Panthers picked him up "off the street," to use the NFL parlance.

"He's good, man," Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson said. "He came in off the street. He didn't have a place to go. But now he's made a place for himself."

Applewhite has been playing mostly behind Johnson and Greg Hardy as a defensive end and on all the special teams. He reckons he was in on about 45 snaps against the Redskins. The Panthers also play him at outside linebacker in certain situations.

He is just glad to have a job. He has experienced life on the edge of an NFL roster for much of his four-year career.

"I feel like everyone is living life on the bubble in the NFL," Applewhite said. "Not just me."

A West Coast guy through and through, Applewhite grew up in Los Angeles and went to San Diego State. He turned pro after his junior year but wasn't drafted.

The Chargers gave him a chance, released him on the final cut in 2007 and then brought him back on their practice squad.

Once Rivera left, it probably didn't help Applewhite's chances to stay in San Diego that the player was charged with two misdemeanor drunken driving offenses in May. He pleaded not guilty in June to those charges.

A San Diego police spokeswoman said Thursday the case remains active and that Applewhite has another court date in January.

Although Rivera was the man mostly responsible for bringing Applewhite to Charlotte, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has quickly learned to appreciate him.

"He's just been a great leader for us," McDermott said. "He's helped the James Andersons and Charles Godfreys of the world in terms of what we're trying to do."

It appears that Applewhite has found an NFL home in Charlotte for awhile. But he is taking nothing for granted.

"I know myself how quickly the tides can change," he said. "I just go every day like it's my last, because you never know."