Your world began to expand at Bismarck Century High in the mid 2000's. People started noticing your football prowess. Entering the 10th grade, you were starting to spurt up from 5'8 as a freshman to 6'5" and 225 pounds by graduation.

It is rare that a young man develops so fast. During those rah-rah, sis-koom-bah high school years, your physical and academic talents began to draw interest to those who are key in making scholarship and scouting decisions.

You weren't a household name. Not yet.

Then, loyal to your state and roots, you elected to attend North Dakota State University and it all began to come-together. Newspaper sports sections started predicting that you might be the man to take the Bison to additional national titles.

Your life and your game, according to you, were guided by faith, your belief in the Lord and "his plan." While some may have been embarrassed to announce such a deep belief in Divine guidance, you weren't. And you've been steadfast to this day.

listen live watch live

It would make no sense in this salute to review all your many grid accomplishments at Bismarck and Fargo and Philadelphia. Often, stats are boring.

I have a cherished magazine, distributed around the F-M metro in 2016, known only as Fargo. It has great eye-appeal and the best way it may be described is slick. This particular issue will always have a place in my files of memorabilia. Why? Because the cover is a picture of you and none-other-than NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the night of the draft. I bet you never believed you'd share the national TV stage in Chicago, and a magazine cover, with a millionaire sports icon. Yet, there you are. On that day, you, too, became a multi-millionaire. You affixed your signature to a contract, marrying you and your talents to the Philadelphia Eagles. You took it all in with grace and style. When it came time to depart the stage, you did so with your mother. Nice. Classy.

There wasn't a television set in the state of North Dakota that wasn't tuned to the NFL draft. And who would have thought or believed that a kid from Bismarck would be picked second out of tens of thousands of American collegiate players? That's never happened and may never again. The Fargo-Moorhead streets, on that magic night, were nearly devoid of traffic. But the restaurants and bar lounges were crammed, with everyone attired in green and gold, tossing 'em down, nearly delirious with joy for you.

You are Carson Wentz. A once in a lifetime national representation and presentation of the state of North Dakota.

Recently, your season ended and we on the northern plains exhaled disappointment. You sustained one of the worst football injuries, a torn-up knee. It wouldn't be wrong to call it broken or busted.

Your season, and maybe ours, ended on that play. But no. Wait! You got up, walked to the sideline, announced you were going to finish the drive and did. On one good leg you trotted back out there, tossed a touchdown pass. and you were finished for the season. The storybook fable had become true. Many believe your faith in God made it happen. Who knows? What matters is that you did it, and your millions of Carson fans from Philadelphia to North Dakota will never forget it.

2016 and 2017 are early chapters in a biography yet to be written. These old eyes have seen a lot in 81 years. Unitas, Tarkenton, Starr, Bird, the Rocky's, Ditka, Mantle, Maris, Broadway Joe and Tiger. I can honestly say that where you are concerned, I've never seen anything like it.

You will return. We're counting on it, and can't wait. May God Bless.

LeVine lives in the One Oak Place retirement community in Fargo.