When the Eagles acquired the second overall pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, one name stood out above the rest: quarterback Carson Wentz.
The "no-name kid from a no-name school," as Jon Gruden called him in his Gruden's QB Camp special, is preparing to make the jump from Division II to the NFL and will face the challenge of not only having to prove himself at the next level but also rise to the occasion of being a high-profile pick at a high-profile position.
Wentz penned a piece for Players Tribune on Monday, looking back at his football life in North Dakota and how it has prepared him for the toughness of the next level and the motivation he has in himself to prove himself in the NFL.
"There’s this belief that I’m at some sort of disadvantage coming into the league because of where I’m from," Wentz said. "But if you get to know me, you’ll understand that being from North Dakota isn’t a disadvantage. Not even close. In fact, having been raised in North Dakota is probably one of my greatest strengths.
"Let me tell you right now — football is football, no matter if it’s played in the Rose Bowl or on a dusty field in Bismarck. Those warm southern states may produce the most NFL talent, but there’s a special brand of football going on up north."
Wentz certainly says all the right things, particularly when talking about the toughness of North Dakota State football and football up north. The more you look, the more you see a quarterback that could certainly embody the Philadelphia blue-collar attitude.
"Toughness comes in handy in a place like North Dakota," Wentz said. "Up there, jamming your numb fingers against someone’s ice-cold helmet happens every practice. Getting decked on the cement-like dirt is just how a play ends. Because in North Dakota, we don’t care for flash or dazzle. That’s not our game. We don’t do things the fanciest way. We do them the right way."
Wentz has become a dark horse prospect that emerged as a potential top pick. Not many have heard of North Dakota State and their Division II success, thus keeping them under the radar.
Wentz has been the leader of that team for two seasons. He's a smart guy, an academic All-American, and possesses the skills and image of a potential franchise quarterback.
But the adjustment process is always a key part of the development of a franchise quarterback. In the Eagles case, they won't be taking Wentz or any other quarterback to start him in the season opener. There will be a learning curve and maturation process, but the timing is up to Wentz, who has to prove he can be a quick learner and is ready to take control of the team in the future.
If this is the guy the Eagles rest their future on, he's certainly making a good impression off the field. And on the field, Wentz feels he is ready for that adjustment as well.
"Am I worried about whether I can have the same success at the next level? Of course not. I’m excited to show people exactly what I can do," Wentz said. "The speed will be an adjustment, but it is for everybody, whether you’re coming from the SEC or Division III. I’m as ready for it as I can possibly be.
"I still approach the game of football the same way I did when I was a 5'8" beanstalk flying around the field in Bismarck. The difference now is that I’m 6'5", 237 pounds, and have been carefully developed into one of the best football prospects in America.
"So what do I say to all the people who wonder if I’m ready for the NFL? I’ve been getting ready my whole life."
The Eagles will possibly take Wentz with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, which opens on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
