In 2011, when Wentz was a redshirt, Haeg said, “Carson was the best quarterback our defense faced”.
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Haven’t heard of him? Despite missing time in 2015 due to a broken wrist, the quarterback still threw for 1,651 yards and 17 touchdowns, compared to just four interceptions.
Cal product Jared Goff laughed off what s become a hot story of this week s NFL scouting combine: his 9-inch hands that are diminutive by league standards for a quarterback. The Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall are widely projected to be the first team to select a quarterback in this year’s draft.
“Oh, yes, it does”, Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson said this week during his podium appearance at the combine in Indianapolis. If he falls far enough, maybe it will be the Jets at No. 20. Last name rhymes with fence.
While North Dakota State isn’t a well-known school when it comes to college football on a national level, Wentz has been part of a very successful program since joining the Bison in 2012. It’s a little bit of a useless measurement.
“Well, it was always a dream”, Wentz told a huge throng of reporters and a wall of TV cameras gathered around Podium C at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday. He was playing FCS ball.
Wentz will return to Irvine, California to continue training for the draft where he is expected to be called in the first 10 picks by many draft experts. Goff, the former Calquarterback rated as one of this year’s top draft prospects, sneered, scoffed and grimaced at the latest predraft chatter that small hands might hurt his stock. Wentz showed some first-day jitters before the assembled masses of scouts at the Senior Bowl but found his comfort zone.
“It showed I can handle that game speed”. Lawler figures to be a second-day draft pick for Cal, but Davis’ draft status is a little less clear. “No, I’ve never had a problem with that”.
It is widely presumed that Goff and Wentz will be out of the Rams’ drafting range unless they trade up, but Lynch could be an option at No. 15, or the Rams could choose a receiver. “I’m not big on speculating”. But we’re competitive with each other. I’m really focused on myself being the best I can be. That’s a high-risk approach, but such is the importance of finding a franchise quarterback and such is the pressure on organizations to do so.
Wentz is bigger and a better athlete, so he’s likely to look good in shorts and a T-shirt. “So when I think of franchise quarterback not only do I think of the physical ability, but I think of being a victor, winning ball games, taking command, being a leader – all of those things”.
That’s the same thing he said when he was asked that question at team headquarters in Renton during press conferences last month.
“We’re not in any panic or rush to find a guy that’s got to go out there and play right away”, Brown said. “Obviously there’s still going to be a big jump going forward, but that was probably the big question everyone wants to know: ‘Can he adjust?” No matter if you go into a situation with a Hall of Famer in front of you, or a situation with nobody in front of you and it’s supposedly given to you.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Wentz is now believed to be the favorite to be the first quarterback off the board. He’s got the stature you’re looking for. 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. “I didn’t think [two years ago that] this is where I’m going to be”, he said.
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In his own words: “As a competitor everyone wants to be the top guy, no doubt about it. But what matters to me is the team that picks me that believes in me”.
