INDIANAPOLIS — In theory, it doesn't matter to KC Concepcion who drafts him. The talented wide receiver has the speed and versatility to make him a top prospect, and as such, he's spoken with most teams already during this draft process, and those he hasn't met with already, he likely will soon.

And in theory, the NC State and Texas A&M product is ready to bring his tantalizing combination of skills to any number of offenses.

"Something that I feel like I will bring to an NFL franchise: a playmaker, versatile. I could play inside receiver, outside receiver, running back, punt return, kick return," the receiver said Friday while meeting with media at the NFL combine.

"Anybody who's willing take a chance on me, I think, gets a steal."

There is one team, though, that Concepcion himself has thought about more than the others, one that is more than just a possibility but instead a dream.

His hometown team, the Carolina Panthers.

"I think about it, you know, I think about it all the time," he said softly, almost scared to admit how much he's considered being able to play back in Charlotte. "I would love to go back home. I was raised up there. Bryce Young, you know, he's an amazing quarterback.

"I actually went to some of the games when Cam Newton and Steve Smith were a receiver and a quarterback."

Concepcion was born in Western New York but moved to the Queen City as a toddler. He played at Chambers High School, where in his final two seasons he caught 65 passes for 977 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also serving as a punt returner and scoring three special teams touchdowns.

"Favorite memory from my high school career at Chambers, I would say probably winning state championships my first two years, as a freshman and as a sophomore," Concepcion recalled this week, "and then my senior year committing."

The speedy receiver spent his first two seasons at home after committing to NC State. During those two years with the Wolfpack, Concepcion had 124 catches for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns, plus 356 rushing yards on 60 carries for two scores. He also threw a touchdown his freshman season. He earned ACC offensive rookie of the year honors, freshman All-American honors, and significant interest from other schools in the transfer portal.

"I always knew I could play any position on the field. I'm thankful for NC State allowing me to be able to showcase what I can do from the slot," Concepcion began, continuing, "and that was a big reason, I mean, being a transfer, I wanted to showcase (to the) NFL, I wanted to show everybody that I'm not just a gadget guy. I can run routes, I can run the full route tree."

So, to sharpen and showcase those skills before testing the NFL market, Concepcion transferred to Texas A&M for his final college season.

"That year at A&M meant everything to me," Concepcion gushed. "A lot of people talk about they took a chance in me, but they allowed me to be me again, and I owe them guys everything."

That year arguably helped his draft stock more than anything. He hauled in 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, plus 10 rushes for 75 yards and another score. If that wasn't enough, he eclipsed the century scrimmage yards mark with 26 punt returns for 456 yards and two touchdowns.

"Elite speed," noted NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. "He's got a couple punt return touchdowns to throw in the mix. He runs away from everybody. He's got some route polish to him as well.

"The thing with him is just the drops."

The discussion around the drops is not a surprise to Concepcion. He's already heard the directive from teams this week that they would have to be addressed.

"Something that the NFL teams feel like I can improve on is my concentration," he admitted. "This year, I had seven drops. It's something I have to work on. I'm going to work every day to fix it, and once I get that chance, I'm going to catch every ball."

The drops are something to consider, but as Jeremiah notes, the conversation is more so a product of draft analysis picking apart everything in a guy's game over the course of several months than any particular reason to avoid the dynamic receiver.

"You're going to have to live with some of that," said Jeremiah. "But he's going to give you the explosive plays to go along with it."

The explosive plays are where Concepcion shines. He averaged 15.07 yards per catch at Texas A&M and 70.7 yards per game. He brought in 26 passes of 15-plus yards and eight passes of 25-plus yards. When the Aggies were in the middle of the field (from their 21-yard line to the opponent's 21), it was Concepcion they would target to stretch the field, going to him 47 times.

"As soon as I get the ball in my hands, it's electric," promised Concepcion. "I'm not letting it—I will never let the first guy take me down. It doesn't matter if it's a screen, if it's a slant, it was any route really, I am going to catch the ball. It's going to be amazing.

"Anything a team wants me to do, I'm going to do it to my best ability. I'm going to try and master it."

The Panthers boast the 2025 offensive rookie of the year in Tetairoa McMillan and have seen the passing game start to come alive with the progression of Young and Jalen Coker. A true downfield threat, though, could open everything up. And general manager Dan Morgan told reporters early during the NFL combine week that when it came to Concepcion, the Panthers were "very aware of him, along with all the other receivers.

"It's a deep receiver class. There's a lot of talented guys that we're excited about. We'll see where it goes."

And if that path takes them to KC Concepcion, in turn bringing him back home, well, that's more than the receiver could hope for.

"They're really, they are changing the culture around there. So, I would love to be a part of that organization."