LOS ANGELES -- So far, Julius Peppers has learned more about Panthers football from walking through malls than exiting huddles. In fact, almost every time he goes shopping, someone comes up to him with this: "I really don't like the Panthers. But now that you're here, I'm going to every game."

Peppers, the second pick in the draft, usually doesn't know what to say. But he does know that fan base he's reeling in now will dissipate if his rookie year draws the same reviews of his 2001 season at North Carolina, in which he was dogged for not playing hard every game. A couple of weeks after his first minicamp, getting his picture taken for his rookie cards at the NFL Rookie Premier in Los Angeles, he didn't seem too worried. "I'm going to have a big impact," he says. "I really feel great. A lot of people said I wasn't worthy of the second pick, but I've never doubted myself.

	“	I'm going to have a big impact. I really feel great. A lot of people said I wasn't worthy of the second pick, but I've never doubted myself. ”
		— Julius Peppers, Panthers defensive end

"Every time I looked on the TV, it was about how I was this big risk. Funny. I think when they looked at me they were looking for something wrong."

The criticism stemmed from his junior season, in which his numbers were down (9½ sacks) from a sophomore season that saw him lead the nation in sacks with 15. But after his first minicamp (in which he was moved to left defensive end), the only thing that surprised him were the practices.

"We only had helmets on, but it was full speed!" he says.

The 6-foot-6, 283-pounder was almost universally considered the top prospect in the draft, yet many wondered whether he was worthy of it. Against Texas, he didn't record a tackle and he wasn't even lined up opposite Mike Williams, who was drafted No. 4 overall by Buffalo. Then, playing on national television against Georgia Tech, he went sackless against true freshman Nat Dorsey. Even teammate Ryan Sims said Peppers could take over a game when he wanted to, but didn't always do so.

Peppers said he had the season he did because he was still learning. "I didn't take any plays off this year. I had games where I had better statistics than others, but it wasn't because I wasn't playing hard. I gave the same effort every game. It was just different situations. Different teams put me in different situations."

Moving to left when -- the same spot where two of the last three sack champions have rushed from -- will be a new situation, too. And Peppers acknowledges he has a lot to learn. But coming to a team that went 1-15, any help will do. And the draw of Peppers, a local product both in high school and college, is getting attention. "People say I'm bringing a new energy," he said as he waited for his name to be called to go to a rookie card photo shoot. "I'm just looking forward to playing."

Just then, he yelled, "Does anyone need Julius Peppers?"

The photographers yelled back, "Yes."

The Panthers are doing the same.

Seth Wickersham covers the NFL for ESPN The Magazine.