A couple months ago I got a phone call from one of my favorite professors at Syracuse. He wanted to give me a heads up about a grad student he thinks has a big future. That raving recommendation led me to BBR’s newest contributor.

Even though he’s from Pittsburgh, Tim Durr seems like a decent enough guy. Trained as a writer, reporter, podcaster and videographer, he has multimedia skills that are so vital these days. He earned a bunch of experience during immersive internships, and now he’s ready to do a bit more.On Friday, Tim’s starting a series that will break down the current state of each Panthers’ position group. He’ll then join me in Spartanburg to experience the glory that is training camp in South Carolina.Before the fun begins, I’m heading up north for a bit and won’t be posting as much. For now, the floor is Tim’s. Be nice to him.

–BV

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First off, let me extend a thank you to Bill for allowing me to take some of the workload off his hands as he continues to build a place where fans can find unique insights on the Panthers.It’s been a long road for me to get to Charlotte from the shadows of steel mills in Western Pennsylvania. I’m from Beaver Falls, PA, also known as the home of Joe Namath. But growing up, I ran around my backyard hoping to be the next Dan Marino. Once I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I figured covering sports wouldn’t be a terrible alternative.After graduating from Beaver Falls, I headed to Slippery Rock University. Yes, that’s a real place. After earning a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in print journalism, I went up to Syracuse to earn a master’s in broadcast and digital journalism.Now, I’m in Charlotte, where the weather will probably be much improved. It’s actually a city I’ve wanted to live in for a while, and having the opportunity to cover the Panthers is an exciting step in my career.So again, thanks to Bill and thanks in advance to you, BBR’s readers.–TD