CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jackson Kuwatch has turned an unlikely path through college football into a spot in the NFL.
The former Lakota West High School and Miami University standout earned a spot on the Carolina Panthers’ initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
Carolina selected Kuwatch, a 6-foot-4, 232-pound linebacker, in the seventh round with the 227th overall pick in April. He competed throughout training camp and the preseason for one of the Panthers’ final linebacker spots.
Kuwatch appeared in all four preseason games while contributing at linebacker and on special teams, an area that helped strengthen his case for a roster position.
The Cincinnati native graduated from Lakota West in 2021 after earning first-team All-Ohio and All-Greater Miami Conference honors. He began his college career as a walk-on at Ohio State before transferring to Miami in 2023.
After primarily contributing on special teams during his first two seasons with the RedHawks, Kuwatch broke out in 2025. He started all 14 games and recorded 109 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while earning third-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.
That performance put Kuwatch on the NFL radar and eventually led Carolina to select him with its final pick of the draft.
Kuwatch has now completed the climb from high school standout to Ohio State walk-on, Miami starter and NFL linebacker.
