PANTHERS MINICAMP ENDS TODAY

Great expectations greet rookie

Defensive back Godfrey playing Minter's former position, wearing No. 30

DAVID SCOTT

dscott@charlotteobserver.com

Staff Photographer

Rookie Charles Godfrey practiced with the Panthers' first-team defense during minicamp. He'll be asked to play free safety, a spot Carolina struggled to fill last season after Mike Minter retired in August. (YALONDA M. JAMES -- yjames@charlotteobserver.com)

Forgive Carolina Panthers rookie Charles Godfrey the Houston Texans logo that is tattooed on his right hand.

And don't worry that, until a few days ago, Godfrey didn't know who Mike Minter is or that he's wearing Minter's old number -- 30 -- as the newest member of the Panthers' defensive secondary.

Godfrey, a third-round draft pick last weekend, has been in Charlotte just a few days and he's already given the team his full commitment.

"I'm a Panther," he said during this weekend's mini-camp.

Godfrey's hand bears the Texans tattoo because he grew up 20 miles from Houston in Baytown, Texas, where he become an avid fan when they entered the league in 2002.

And when he selected the No. 30 Panthers jersey, he was unaware it was worn previously by Minter, one of the franchise's all-time great players.

"I have to do some research on this guy," Godfrey said of Minter, who retired in August as the team's all-time leading tackler.

"A lot of people have come up to me and told me about him. I don't know much, except that he was a great player, and I have to live up to it."

Of course, learning he would practice with the first team before he even pulled on that No. 30 for the first time gave Godfrey a quick sense of belonging.

When the Panthers' defense met Thursday night and the first-team was announced for mini-camp, Godfrey heard his name called at free safety.

"Emotionally you can't let that put you at a different level," Godfrey said. "As a rookie you have to learn as if you're the last guy on the team. I keep encouraging myself to keep learning."

Godfrey played both cornerback and free safety at Iowa, where had five interceptions last season and was an All-Big Ten second-team selection. He'll be asked to play free safety for the Panthers -- a spot they struggled to fill last season in Minter's absence.

"Charles is a sharp guy," said Panthers coach John Fox. "He's gone through quite a few things here already and he seems to pick them up fairly quickly. He's still got a lot of time to get better."

Godfrey is dutifully taking his playbook with him after he leaves Bank of America Stadium each day.

"I've got to be a sponge," he said.

"We're putting in a lot of defenses at one time, and you've got to study at night. I've found out I can't just go home and go to sleep. You have to have looked at it if you want to play."

And he's learning some hard lessons.

During a passing drill Saturday, Godfrey was beaten on a long touchdown pass by Ryne Robinson.

"My whole motive coming in was that I wanted to take a starting spot," Godfrey said. "I didn't want to come and sit back and say this is just a learning period for me. Until the season starts, I hope it's my spot and I'll try to keep it."

After his first day of practice ended Friday, Godfrey walked off the field and toward the stadium. Several fans stood next to the sidewalk, hoping for autographs.

"That's Mike Minter's jersey!" one shouted at Godfrey. "That's a high standard!"

Charles Godfrey had heard it before. And he'll certainly hear it again.

David Scott: 704-358-5889