Written by Jeff Reynolds at CBSSports.com
Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, two of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the NFL draft, were the main attractions at the 2016 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday.
Wentz was 20-3 at North Dakota State and won four national championships at the FCS powerhouse, including the national championship game on Jan. 9 in Frisco, Texas. Three weeks later, he was running a pro-style offense for the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff at the Senior Bowl, where he made more fans.
“I know just how much people respect his play on the field, but I think as you get a chance to meet him as a person it’ll even climb even higher,” said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, a North Dakota State graduate. “He’s just got a good perspective. Sometimes you see guys that come out maybe of a I-AA or Division II (school), it take some time to adjust or you wonder is it too big. That’s not the case with him, in just my conversations, so I’m happy for North Dakota State and I’m happy for him.”
Wentz, the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the draft behind only Goff per NFLDraftScout.com, said Thursday he never questioned his ability to make the jump from FCS to the NFL but senses life is moving at a faster pace since his success in Mobile. Wentz showed some first-day jitters before the assembled masses of scouts at the Senior Bowl but found his comfort zone.
“I think right away the biggest challenge that myself, anybody standing up here at this podium is going to say is adjusting to that speed,” Wentz said. “You put on some NFL tape or you watch ‘Monday Night Football,’ Sunday games or whatever, you realize these guys are playing fast. So you’ve got to adjust right away and learn to adapt pretty quick.”
Evaluators have said this week that the one thing they need to see from so-called lower-level prospects to consider them NFL material is dominant play at that level of competition. Wentz had 17 touchdown passes and four interceptions as a senior, when he missed time with a broken right wrist that required surgery in October.
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