CHARLOTTE — The locker bearing No. 98 on its top shelf long remained a quiet area after the New York Jet’s game Sunday.
When Quinton Coples finally reappeared to his cubby, he released a somewhat dejected energy as the Gang Green had just fallen to the Carolina Panthers, 30-20, at Bank of America Stadium.
Jets linebacker Coples is in his second season in the NFL. Out of UNC, he was drafted No. 16 overall by New York.
It’s no mistake to label his professional career anything short of so-far successful. From playing football at Kinston High School — to being rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com — to an All-ACC junior season in college — to finally: Living the dream.
In Sunday’s game, he became the first football player from Kinston to compete professionally in his home state.
While attaining an NFL career elevated Coples’ athletic journey, the glam of pro ball also has its dark side: Sometimes, you will lose.
“It was a lot of emotions being home, being able to see my family, being able to see my friends,” Coples said. “There were a lot of emotions … in this game, but I came up short, so I have to live with the loss.”
Recording five tackles against a Cam Newton-led offense on the Panthers’ way to stopping the Jets (6-8), sophomore Coples saw a lot of action as a defensive starter.
He tackled Newton on the first play of the opening drive before more than 73,000 people. He fought his way into the backfield on numerous other occasions before eventually sacking the Panthers’ third-year QB.
“Those guys … kept coming (and were) relentless with their attack,” Newton said of the Jets’ defensive line. “I think our offensive line did a pretty good job of keeping me clean, and when I did get sacked, it was on me.”
He was sacked twice in the game.
Inside the two-minute warning of the first half, Coples had clear look to Netwon and proceeded to pounce on the QB for a loss of six yards. But the drive ended with Panthers’ kicker Graham Gano nailing his third field goal of the evening, giving Carolina (10-4) a 16-6 advantage headed into halftime.
In their first possession of the third quarter, the Panthers faced a fourth-and-2 they decided to pursue. Coples, who’d been tracking Newton diligently during the drive, broke up the pass to get the offense back on the field.
The Jets scored a touchdown nine plays following Coples’ play.
For the Hargrave Military Academy graduate, he said he’s finding his way in this league.
“I think (my career) has been productive,” he said. “I still have to work on some things, continue to get better and work on my craft.”
Coples has 35 tackles and four sacks on the season.
Running through the tunnel Sunday felt no different than any other game during his NFL career, except this time, he was greeted by family. He shared a hug with his mother, Gail, before kickoff against a Panthers team in the hunt for a playoff berth.
The defensive line had a plan for the mobile Newton going into Charlotte.
“We just had to make him a pocket QB for the most part and let everything else fall into play,” Coples said. “I think we did a great job as far as doing that, it’s just, we came up short.”
Though the linebacker made Kinston history Sunday, the loss hovered over that accomplishment.
“It is big just to be able to step up in that category,” said Coples, who left the hood of his gray sweatshirt cloaked over him as he spoke, “but, once again, we came up short, so it’s not too much to hold my head on.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.