FARGO-North Dakota State football fans saw what Carson Wentz could do last season. It didn't go unnoticed by Mel Kiper Jr., either.

On Wednesday, the veteran ESPN analyst ranked Wentz as the third best senior quarterback prospect for the 2016 NFL draft.

"Don't know him?" Kiper wrote. "You will. Wentz doesn't only offer prototypical pocket-passer size (6-5, 230 pounds)-he can also really move. Last season he recorded 642 rushing yards and 3,111 passing yards. Competition level is an obvious concern, but the physical tools are impressive."

The competition level refers to Wentz's Football Championship Subdivision that NDSU competes in - one level below the big-time programs in Football Bowl Series.

Wentz also led the Bison to their fourth straight FCS national championship last year in his first year as a starter.

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It was somewhat of a slow start the first couple of games after being an understudy to quarterback Brock Jensen his first three years, including a redshirt year in 2011. NDSU quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg called Kiper's assessment "well deserved" because of his improvement over the course of last season.

"I think Carson has a high ceiling," Hedberg said.

Kiper believes four other quarterbacks have a high ceiling, too, in his top five list led by his No. 1 prospect in Michigan State's Connor Cook.

"He was wise to return to East Lansing for another season," Kiper wrote. "Cook has good length and athleticism and a strong arm. He plays in a system NFL coaches recognize, and he put together a solid 2014 season, with a 24-8 TD-INT ratio."

Cody Kessler from USC is ranked just ahead of Wentz. Trevone Boykin from TCU is fourth on Kiper's list and Dak Prescott from Mississippi State fifth.

Getting on Kiper's list so early in the process is a lot of attention for Wentz, although Hedberg said there is no concern with distractions when it comes to Wentz.

"Carson can handle that very well," Hedberg said. "He's very well grounded. He's trying to get better and working hard this summer."

Hedberg said the pro scouts like Wentz's size, his quick delivery and the velocity that he can put on a throw. Also in Wentz's favor is the Bison West Coast offense, in which Wentz operates at times under center. Many quarterbacks these days operate in the shotgun formation almost full time.

"He's an under-center quarterback and I think that's huge to the NFL people," Hedberg said. "I've had a number of people with NFL ties say that. There are not very many anymore taking snaps under center and dropping back and he's able to do that in our system."

Wentz, who was a team captain as a junior last year, is practically running the summer practices for the Bison players this summer, Hedberg said. Backups Cole Davis and Easton Stick have been there every step of the way, he said.

"We can't be out there (as coaches) but he's running them and that's a pretty good guy to have running those practices," Hedberg said.