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          NFL Nation

          Georgia RB Todd Gurley: 'Panthers are a great organization'

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterMar 18, 2015, 02:20 PM ET
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers are looking to add depth at running back in the NFL draft, and Georgia’s Todd Gurley could be an option.

          Gurley, who played high school football in Tarboro, North Carolina, will visit the Panthers Wednesday.

          “The Panthers are a great organization,’’ Gurley told ESPN’s Ryan McGee and other reporters Wednesday during Georgia’s pro day in Athens, Georgia. “I'm a North Carolina guy, so that’s a team that I’ve known about my whole life, really.

          “They’ve had some great running backs. But I don’t favor any team right now. I don't want to make any other teams mad.’’

          The Panthers were scheduled to work out Gurley’s teammate, wide receiver Chris Conley, later on Wednesday in Athens. Conley opened a lot of eyes at the NFL combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds, but he’s not expected to be a first-round pick.

          Gurley could be a player Carolina considers with the 25th pick as it seeks depth behind Jonathan Stewart and Fozzy Whittaker after releasing all-time leading rusher DeAngelo Williams.

          Gurley was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy before being suspended for four games by the NCAA for reportedly accepting more than $3,000 for autographed memorabilia and other items over a two-year span.

          In his first game back he tore the ACL in his left knee, ending his junior season and ultimately his college career when he opted to enter the draft.

          Gurley had rushed for 138 yards on 29 carries in the 34-7 victory over Auburn before suffering the fourth-quarter injury.

          Gurley did not participate in UGA's pro day as he continues to rehabilitate the knee. But he told reporters he hopes to be recovered by the start of NFL training camp that begins in late July.

          Gurley won’t be the only running back to visit Charlotte. Indiana’s Tevin Coleman recently said the Panthers were on his list.

          Coleman suffered a broken right big toe in the fifth game last season, but didn’t miss a start and finished with a school-record 2,036 yards. He had surgery to repair the injury before the NFL combine and is scheduled to compete in his school’s pro day on April 15.

          Gurley’s trip to Charlotte apparently won’t include staying over to watch his favorite college basketball team, Duke, play Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

          Georgia, by the way, also is playing in Charlotte.

          “You know I’m a Duke fan, so my bracket is Duke all the way,’’ Gurley said. “ .. I've got to get back to Pensacola [Florida, home to Dr. James Andrews' clinic] and get back to work.’’