Carson Wentz is a professional American football quarterback who plays for the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts (NFL). He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on December 30, 1992, but grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota. In this article, we will explore Wentz’s journey from a small-town hero to an NFL star, including his early years, college career, NFL draft, and his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
A Small-Town Hero
Carson Wentz grew up in a small town in North Dakota, where he played high school football for the Bismarck Century Patriots. He quickly established himself as a talented athlete and led his team to two state championships. Despite his success on the field, Wentz was relatively unknown outside of North Dakota and received college football scholarship offers in his senior year.
A Rising Star
Carson Wentz attended North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he played football for the Bison. He redshirted his first year and served as a backup quarterback for his next two seasons. In his junior year, he took over as the starting quarterback and led the Bison to their fourth consecutive FCS national championship. He was named the championship game’s Most Outstanding Player.
Wentz’s senior year was cut short due to a wrist injury, but he still managed to impress NFL scouts. He finished his college career with 5,115 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,028 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A Top Pick
The Philadelphia Eagles picked Carson Wentz second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Eagles selected Wentz with the eighth overall choice, believing he had the potential to be a franchise quarterback. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $26.7 million, including a $17.6 million signing bonus.
Wentz’s first season with the Eagles was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of brilliance but also struggled with turnovers and inconsistent play. The Eagles finished the season with a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs.
Success and Struggles
In 2017, Carson Wentz had a breakout season, leading the Eagles to an 11-2 record before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 14. Despite missing the rest of the season, he was still in the running for the NFL MVP award and helped the Eagles secure the top seed in the playoffs. Backup quarterback Nick Foles stepped in and led the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl victory.
Wentz returned from his injury in 2018 but struggled with inconsistent play and turnovers. The Eagles finished the season with a 9-7 record and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the New Orleans Saints.
In 2019, Wentz had another solid season, leading the Eagles to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth. However, he suffered a concussion in the wild-card round and was forced to leave the game early. The Eagles lost to the Seattle Seahawks, and Wentz’s season was over.
Carson Wentz’s problems persisted in 2020, and he was finally benched in favour of backup quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles finished the regular season 4-11-1, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
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