During the first week of training camp last summer, Carolina Panthers' first-round pick Shaq Thompson was struggling with a hamstring he tweaked in the spring.

A year later, Thompson doesn't seem to be struggling with much of anything.

The second-year player impressed in the Panthers' first two practices and then starred in the third, forcing two turnovers Saturday morning.

The first came on the opening play of 9-on-9s when he knocked the ball out of fullback Mike Tolbert's hands. The other was a showcase of his athleticism.

When quarterback Cam Newton tried lofting a pass to tight end Greg Olsen, a trailing Thompson reached high with his left arm and tipped the ball to himself for an interception.

"Shaq’s really come a long way," coach Ron Rivera said.

"We saw that as the season ended last year. You saw him start stepping up and making plays. He’s picked up where he left off, which is great. His recall of what we’re doing on the defensive side is outstanding. And the way he’s been practicing has been good."

The gimpy hamstring and a rule that made him go back for spring classes at Washington slowed Thompson's development as a rookie. But his potential began to shine through as the season went along, and he landed in the starting lineup for the Panthers' final four regular-season games and the entire postseason. And while it's early in his second season, it's clear he's a long ways from where he was last July.

"Some guys will come in and improve that rookie year, and then there's a dropoff," said linebacker Luke Kuechly, as he made a plunging motion with his hand.

"But Shaq ended last year here," Kuechly continued, raising his hand higher, "and he's picked up that same spot and still moving forward."