Try as he may, there’s one question Carson Wentz can’t seem to settle.
Given the level of competition you faced in college, are you ready for the NFL?
When the former North Dakota State quarterback first heard it, he had an answer ready to rattle back. Then, he chuckled at the repetition. Now, with a hint of defiance, he almost wants you to ask.
“I’m just honest,” Wentz told USA TODAY Sports over lunch recently. “A, if you watch the film, it’s pretty good competition and we’re at the peak of that competition. We’re winning championships. We’re like the SEC of the (Football Championship Subdivision). And B, it’s something I can’t control.
“If you’re going to let that become a big deal to you, then by all means, I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”
Never mind that Wentz is set to become one of the first two players taken in the NFL draft Thursday in Chicago — with most projections forecasting him to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2. Or that the Bison claimed five consecutive national championships, the last two with Wentz as the starter.
North Dakota State can’t slip the stigma — fair or not — that comes with playing in the Missouri Valley Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision, which is why the question keeps coming.
Aside from Wentz's prototypical size (6-5, 237 pounds), athleticism, accuracy and arm strength, a few traits provide a hint at an answer. The most significant is the offense that he ran — and the way he ran it.
“That’s what I don’t get,” Wentz said. “People that criticize the level of competition might say, ‘Oh, because you played in the FCS, you must’ve run a remedial offense.’ I would argue we’re more complex than anybody else.”
North Dakota State ran a pro-style, power-running scheme. The Bison dissected teams with play-action passes, but they also incorporated shotgun plays, zone-reads, power sweep plays and spread elements with an empty backfield — all of which are prominent in the NFL.
Wentz was given freedom to audible at the line of scrimmage and was responsible to set the protections for the offensive line. There were times when Bison offensive coordinator Tim Polasek would merely choose a formation, and Wentz would walk up to the line, diagnose the defense and call the play.
And, when North Dakota State was in the two-minute drill, Wentz basically orchestrated entire drives.
“Some NFL quarterbacks don’t do half those things,” Wentz said. “A lot of the stuff we did was similar to what you see in the NFL. We just called it something different.”
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Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes
