With nine days left until the Carolina Panthers face off with the Denver Broncos, we look at #9, K Graham Gano.

Bio

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 196 lbs

Age: 29

College: Florida State

Hometown: Dundee, Scotland

Experience: 8 Years

Career

So, fun fact: according to Gano's Wikipedia page, his nickname is "Onions". Not sure why, and honestly surprised this is the first time I am learning this about our esteemed kicker. In any case, Gano has been a reliable kicker for the Carolina Panthers since joining the team in 2012. Fresh off our hellish season of Olindo Mare (the "That's A'Mare" jokes never get old though), the Panthers signed the former Washington Redskin in the hopes we would finally have a place kicker we could rely on not named John Kasay. Luckily for us, that turned out to be a pretty good gamble.

Last season had some really big highs for Gano, as well as some low points. For some of the highs, who can forget the walk off 52 yard FG to win in OT against the Indianapolis Colts?

Now that is the look of a leader! Gano had several FGs of great importance that he converted last year. His bad moments include though four blocked kicks, which probably can be blamed more on the lack of proper blocking than Gano, but in the end it reflects poorly on his stats. Even with the four blocks, Gano was 30/36 with a long of 52 yards. Not bad at all really, if the Panthers can sort out their FG blocking troubles.

Having a reliable kicker can mean the world. We Panther fans, circa 03-04, are all painfully aware of that. Even though the position is losing more ground in terms of importance each year seemingly, thanks to various rule changes, the position of place kicker can still be the difference between a win and a loss. Gano has been a reliable guy for us, not to mention based on his take over of the team's Snapchat during training camp, a genuinely funny individual. I don't see this season being any different for him.

I mean really, nobody can question the man's determination. How can you after you saw him do this?

So beware everyone: Graham Gano ain't got no time for you to be in the way when it comes to making FGs happen. Unless of course we forget how to block, which seems to happen with a little too much frequency. Maybe Onions can convince the special teams unit to do their jobs a tad better this season.