Johnson C. Smith football team holds spring practice at NFL Stadium

Jcsupanthers

The Johnson C. Smith football team held a recent spring practice inside an NFL stadium.

On Thursday, the Golden Bulls worked out at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.

JCSU, practicing at a local high school previously, was at the downtown Charlotte stadium because McGirt Field was undergoing turf replacement.

It started with school officials contacting the Panthers in March to investigate whether the team could practice at its home field.

After checking the stadium calendar, the Panthers greenlit JCSU to make the two-mile trip to Bank of America Stadium.

Junior Jack Smith, whose dream is to play in the NFL, was overwhelmed at the opportunity.

“It makes you want to go even harder, knowing that you could be a step closer to (getting) there,” he said.