Before Texans defensive end J.J. Watt became the first player in NFL history to rack up multiple 20-sack seasons, he spent three years at Wisconsin with Panthers punter Brad Nortman.

Before they were college teammates, Watt and Nortman grew up about 10 miles apart.

Ahead of Carolina’s home opener Sunday against Texans, Nortman recalled his first on-field meeting with Watt — a scrimmage between Nortman’s Brookfield Central Lancers and Watt’s Pewaukee Pirates.

“I think when he was tight end and I was linebacker, I gave him a couple shots across the middle. I was kind of sitting back in my zone as he crossed it, gave him a jam,” Nortman said.

“I don’t think he caught one against me. I’m not sure it’s documented, but it happened.”

So the Panthers have someone on the roster who shut down Watt, an athletic freak who scored three touchdowns as a tight end last season.

With Luke Kuechly out, perhaps Nortman could jump in at linebacker Sunday?

“Uh, no. A firm no on that one,” he said. “If we did a graph of our skills and position, J.J.’s has kept ascending and mine just really nose-dived.”

Before he became honorable mention All-Big Ten and the only punter the Panthers have ever drafted, Nortman played tight end and linebacker for the mighty Lancers. It was during those high school days when he first met Watt at NX Level, a local training facility.

“He was already well-known in the area. I introduced myself to him and he was really friendly. A good Wisconsin boy,” Nortman said.

“We were in the same workout group. Back then I used to be able to keep up with him. Couldn’t do that anymore.”

Watt went to Wisconsin a year before Nortman. Together, they helped the Badgers snap an 11-year Rose Bowl drought.

After the Texans took Watt with their 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, quarterback Russell Wilson transferred to Madison, leading Wisconsin and Nortman to a second straight Rose Bowl berth.

Since then, Watt and Wilson have become two of the most marketed players in the NFL. But who’s more famous?

“Can you say me?” Norman asked.

No, sorry.

“Well, I’m not one to make these kind of judgments. I’m not plugged into the culture sort to speak,” Nortman said. “I don’t mean to get J.J. all riled up, but I would say Russell. Super Bowl-winning quarterback. That does it; he’s got the ring.”

Before Sunday’s kickoff, it’s unlikely Watt will read BBR, so he’ll have to find something else to get riled up about. Perhaps it’ll be seeing the guy who shut him down that one time during a high school scrimmage.

“I’m not sure that’s my lasting memory with him,” Nortman said.

“He’s a good dude and hard worker. It’s not a huge surprise he’s having so much success because he works super hard and cares a lot about the game. It’s good to see him have success, but maybe not this week.”