NDSU Magazine Spring 2016: NDSU in the NFL - North Dakota State University

ndsu
in the
nfl

Eight seniors get a shot

Anyone with ties to North Dakota State University, or Fargo, or Bismarck, or North Dakota, has probably heard that the Philadelphia Eagles selected North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz as the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 28. It’s kind of a big deal. Wentz is the first quarterback drafted out of NDSU and the highest-drafted non-FBS quarterback, surpassing Steve McNair (3rd in 1995), Phil Simms (7th in 1979), Joe Flacco (18th in 2008) and Ken O'Brien (24th in 1983). McNair, Simms and Flacco are all Super Bowl winners.

Prior to Wentz, three NDSU players had gone as high as the second round in the NFL Draft, including linebacker Steve Nelson in 1974 to the Patriots (34th overall), wide receiver Stacy Robinson in 1985 to the Giants (46th overall) and defensive end Phil Hansen in 1991 to the Bills (54th overall).

North Dakota State has produced NFL draft picks three straight years including in 2015 when defensive end Kyle Emanuel was drafted as a linebacker in the fifth round by the San Diego Chargers, and in 2014 when left tackle Billy Turner went in the third round to the Miami Dolphins.

Left tackle Joe Haeg was drafted in the fifth round, and half of the Bison senior class had secured NFL opportunities soon after the draft ended Saturday evening.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Haeg with the 155th overall pick, giving NDSU multiple draft picks for the eighth time in program history and the first time since 2002. He was the third NDSU player drafted by the Colts, joining running back Bruce Airheart (1965) and center Rob Hunt (2005).

Linebacker Joe Mays in 2008 was the last NDSU player drafted by the Eagles.

Carson Wentz photo

CARSON WENTZ
Quarterback
First round, second pick
Philadelphia Eagles