Former Longview Lobo quarterback Haynes King has secured a spot on the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster, it was announced Sunday. King, who signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech, earned his place despite missing the final three preseason games due to a hamstring injury.
King, a dual-threat quarterback known for making plays with both his arm and his legs, showcased his capabilities in his single preseason appearance. He led the Carolina Panthers to a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the annual Hall of Fame game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. In that game, King completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while adding three carries for 39 yards. He was the second quarterback utilized by the Panthers in the contest.
His performance included an efficient scoring drive in the second quarter, anchoring a 10-play, 65-yard series where he completed 5 of 8 passes for 44 yards and a score, featuring an "on-the-run touchdown throw" to wideout Ja’seem Reed. King also managed the two-minute offense effectively after a late Arizona field goal, orchestrating a 16-play, 65-yard drive in 1:55, culminating in a 5-yard run for a touchdown with no time remaining to seal the win. He finished the game with a 95.2 passer rating, completing 61.8% of his throws for 180 yards and two touchdowns, alongside 39 rushing yards and a touchdown, leading five scoring drives on six possessions.
King was named the ACC's Player of the Year in 2025 during his sixth college season at Georgia Tech, where he set career records for touchdowns and completions. In 2025, he led the team in both passing and rushing and ranked No. 3 in the FBS for total yards per game. Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, where he was a three-year starter, King played at Texas A&M after being a top recruit. His college career total, spanning both institutions, included 802 completions on 1,123 passes for 9,486 yards and 65 touchdowns, along with 471 carries for 2,427 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns.
At Longview High School, King compiled a 37-5 record as a starting quarterback. As a junior in 2018, he helped lead the Lobos to their first state title in 81 years. In the Class 6A Division II state championship game against Beaumont West Brook at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, he passed for 423 yards and two touchdowns, adding 65 rushing yards and a touchdown in the 35-34 victory.
Other East Texans who made 53-man rosters include DeMarvion Overshown (Arp) for the Dallas Cowboys, Kendre Miller (Mount Enterprise), Erik McCoy (Lufkin), and Tyree Wilson (West Rusk) for the New Orleans Saints. Kitan Crawford (Tyler High) made the Arizona Cardinals roster, while Beaux Limmer (Tyler Legacy) made the Los Angeles Rams. Nick Martin (Pleasant Grove) joined the San Francisco 49ers, Landon Jackson (Pleasant Grove) made the Buffalo Bills, and Patrick Mahomes (Whitehouse) made the Kansas City Chiefs. Jermod McCoy (Whitehouse) made the Las Vegas Raiders, and Brandon Jones (Nacogdoches) made the Denver Broncos. Running backs Jam Miller (Tyler Legacy) and JaMycal Hasty (Longview) were among those cut by the New England Patriots.
