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Senior Bowl: Carson Wentz continues to draw rave reviews

By Sayre Bedinger

Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) reacts after the game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) reacts after the game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Senior Bowl 2016: North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz is stealing all the headlines from the Senior Bowl. Is the hype surrounding him legit?

We all know NFL teams are desperate for quarterbacks on an annual basis. Would drafting Carson Wentz be a reflection of his ability as an NFL prospect or that of an NFL team succumbing to its own need for a signal caller?

What do we know about Wentz? Well, he’s a physical marvel at 6-5 235 pounds. NFL scouts and coaches are going to love that about him. He has a great arm, and can make every throw there is to make. He can rocket fire the ball into a tight space, or he can drop it in the bread basket deep downfield with touch.

When I watched Wentz play at North Dakota State, he looked like a future NFL franchise quarterback. There was plenty of hype on him before the season that he’s not some ‘sleeper’ who is just emerging. Scouts at the Senior Bowl have even apparently thrown out the words ‘top 10’ and ‘Wentz’ in the same sentence, and they weren’t talking about the latest Fall Out Boy hit.

Despite playing his college ball at North Dakota State — which by the way is one of the top programs in all of college football — Wentz could be the top quarterback off the board this year.

Mike Mayock said that Wentz is his ‘favorite’ QB in the draft and that he has a ‘hose’.

The ‘process’ of player evaluation doesn’t end at collegiate game tape, but that’s certainly the most important. If that’s the case, what you see from Wentz on tape is that of a guy that can lead an NFL franchise and make players around him better, it just might take some time.

Will an NFL team be willing to wait?

If he’s the top QB off the board, he might have to come along quickly, because more than one job could be on the line. I would love to see him in a situation like the one in Dallas, where he could sit behind Tony Romo but one where he’d also have nearly pressure-free opportunities to play if and when Romo needs some time off to nurse an injury.

Sorry, it’s just the reality of life…

The hype surrounding Wentz is only going to grow larger and larger. The question is — can he live up to it?

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