KEY STATS: During three seasons as USC's starting center, he allowed only four quarterback sacks and two pressures. As a senior at USC, he made second-team All-America and unanimous All Pac-10. He also was voted the conference's top offensive lineman.
WHY THEY PICKED HIM: Center wasn't a "need" position, but the Panthers simply couldn't pass on what likely was the highest-ranked player left on any team's draft board. DID YOU KNOW? Kalil attended the same high school, Servite in Anaheim, Calif.
, that was home to former Panthers' quarterback Steve Beuerlein. Center wasn't a "need" position for the Carolina Panthers heading into Saturday's NFL draft, but team officials decided the chance to take the best center available late in the second round was too good to pass up.
The Panthers chose Southern Cal All-American Ryan Kalil with the 59th pick, which was obtained in a trade earlier in the day from the New York Jets.
Carolina might have opted to take a defensive end -- a clear need -- at that spot, but a run on the position thinned out the available candidates. Other teams chose defensive ends with four of the five picks preceding Carolina's selection.
Kalil was clearly the best player at any position available, so the Panthers chose him and thus strengthened their offensive line.
The move could mean center Justin Hartwig, signed to a lucrative free agent contract last year, could be moved to guard. Kalil also showed at the Senior Bowl he's capable of playing guard.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
lauded Carolina's selection and predicted Kalil would become an elite center.
Most mock drafts had Kalil getting drafted much sooner than 59th, with some predicting he'd be selected late in the first round.
Coach John Fox said the Panthers had a first-round grade on Kalil and that the team would try him first at the center position.
Kalil said he told Fox he wasn't disappointed and that "if dropping to the second round is the worst thing that ever happens in my life, I think I'll be all right."
Kalil also could provide an unusual element as the Panthers' offensive line tries to develop harmony: He's a huge fan of singer Frank Sinatra and used to croon Sinatra tunes in Southern Cal huddles.
Kalil said he was thrilled to be joining the Panthers.
"I can't wait to come in and help contribute to a Super Bowl," he said.
Kalil's father, Frank, played center in the USFL and the younger Kalil said he grew up hoping to follow in his dad's footsteps.
Asked if he'd ever envisioned playing another position, Kalil said he used to throw passes as a youngster "but when those balls started hitting the ground, those dreams were over with.
"
Now, he'll have a chance to be the man who snaps the ball to the Panthers' quarterbacks.
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