NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz under NFL scrutiny at Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Ala. – Those NFL executives who couldn't make the trek to North Dakota to check out Carson Wentz in college are now getting a close-up view of the player in the mix to be the first quarterback drafted.

The former North Dakota State star is the most prominent of a number of FCS products trying to make an impression on NFL teams during practices this week for the Senior Bowl.

They'll be lining up against guys who played at such programs as Alabama and Ohio State all week, with pro coaches, scouts and executives watching closely.

"A lot of the small-school guys come in here with a little chip on their shoulder, something to prove," Wentz said. "[It's] just exciting to finally get out there and face these guys."

The 6-5, 233-pound Wentz might be the top prospect at the Senior Bowl. Bison teammate Joe Haeg, an offensive lineman, is also trying to show NFL teams ahead of Saturday's game that he can play at that level.

From William & Mary defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson to Southeast Missouri wide receiver Paul McRoberts and Harvard offensive tackle Cole Toner, they're finally on a level playing field with FBS guys.

Wentz is vying with California's Jared Goff and Memphis's Paxton Lynch to be the first quarterback selected. He returned from a broken right wrist, sustained on Oct. 17, to lead North Dakota State to a win over Jacksonville State in the FCS championship game.

"Yes, he was scouted in the fall, but Fargo, North Dakota, is a tough place to get to," said Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage, a former Cleveland Browns general manager. "There were probably a handful of [general managers] that made it out there.

"But to be on this stage in front of this many people, I mean this can be almost a coming-out party for him."

The other guys from FCS schools face similar challenges, even if they're not being scrutinized quite so closely as a potential first-round quarterback.

Some were undersized or late bloomers who were barely recruited by major colleges or not at all. Wentz grew from a 5-8, 125-pound beanpole as a high school freshman in Bismarck, N.D., and didn't play quarterback as a junior because of an injury.

"In North Dakota, it's hard to get found in general, let alone missing a junior year," Wentz said. "I came in my senior year at 6-5 and 200 pounds and kind of came out of nowhere."

"I would definitely say there's a lot of people that kind of look down on FCS players because obviously there's a lot of great players at the FBS level," the 6-6, 310-pound Haeg said. "But also there's a lot of great players that are overlooked at the FCS level."

If there's any shortage of confidence from Wentz, it's not evident.