CHARLOTTE — The Panthers have a lineage of dynamic inside linebackers. From Sam Mills to Micheal Barrow to Dan Morgan to Jon Beason to Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis to Shaq Thompson, there has been a standard of excellence at the spot for decades.

When Trevin Wallace arrived in Charlotte as a rookie last year, Thompson pulled him aside and told him, "You're up next."

A year later, Thompson is now with the Buffalo Bills, and the Panthers had to release veteran Josey Jewell last week as he continues to recover from concussion symptoms. When the release was announced last Tuesday, Wallace got a text shortly after.

It was Thompson, reminding him once again of the role he's meant to play.

"He texted me and just told me like, 'Hey bro, we talked about this when you got here, like you up next; now you really up next though, so just go out there and be free.'"

Wallace and Thompson talk every day, according to the second-year linebacker—"Talk every single day, like sometimes he just calls me what you doing, checking on me, checking on my family." But Thompson isn't the only former Panther Wallace hears from a lot. He and Kuechly have formed a bond as well, one based on mentorship, a sounding board, and just someone's brain to pick.

"We talk, he'll check up on me, ask me how I'm doing," Wallace said of Kuechly. "You know, 'Hey, sometimes you want to go grab lunch,' so, you know, just getting those good things, learning things from them."

It's a brotherhood that has been taking care of Wallace since he was drafted in the third round last spring and was thrust into a large role as a rookie when various injuries kept Thompson and Jewell off the field, even calling the plays for a couple of games.

The most important thing Kuechly and Thompson have imparted? Be more vocal.

"That's one thing they tell me, like, 'Hey, just go out there, the main thing is you're the quarterback of the defense, so you know, you go out there and be vocal and be loud.'"

Wallace readily admitted that last season, having the green dot and calling plays was a lot to take on so early as a rookie. As he continues to adapt and become more comfortable, though, the Panthers are leaning on Christian Rozeboom—the former Los Angeles Ram acquired in free agency—to handle communications for now.

That veteran experience and time in the system (Rozeboom played under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in LA) is paying dividends for the young Wallace now.

"Christian, you know, like I said, he already came in here knowing the defense and all that because it's a similar defense where he played in LA," Wallace shared following Tuesday's training camp practice. "So it was no wasted steps with him, and I love that.

"Great communication with us, even like when we're in between plays, we always keep each other on the high end like, 'Yeah, you got this, we got that,' so you know it's really good."

Regardless of who is next to him, though, Wallace knows the job has become moderately easier thanks to the Panthers' beefing up the defensive line. In addition to Derrick Brown returning from injury to join A'Shawn Robinson in the trenches, the defense also added Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton in free agency. It's a lineup that still takes Wallace by surprise when everyone is on the field together.

"It's great to have that great, a good D-line in front of us, so just watching them play and all that, sometimes I'll be starstruck like 'Oh boy, them boys balling.' But then have to get to the play like 'Oh Trevor, you playing ball.' So you know it's real good to have that," Wallace said.

"Upfront, (having DB back is) a lot of difference. That's a big dude, and he can clobber a hole and do things that's just crazy, and it's really good having that in front of you."

Even with a stout line up front, much is asked of a middle linebacker in this game. And as Trevin Wallace continues to evolve into the player he's going to become, he has two of the best in his corner, and in his text messages, every day, offering guidance only they can.