Will Wentz would
be considered a is a late-bloomer when it comes to playing on the gridiron but
that did not stop him from contributing to Atlantic Shores defending
state championship team.
"I played football all through out middle
school," Wentz said. "My freshmen year, I went to Cape Henry where they don't
have a football team so I couldn't play. When I moved to Cox High School, I was
more in to basketball and I just decided I didn't want to get hurt on the field
and miss basketball season. But since I came to Shores, I got back into it
because my dad told me would really help me get stronger and I'm really good so
why not take a chance because Coach Lance kept asking me to play."
The
Seahorses had a lot of positions to fill heading into the 2009 season and found
a diamond in the rough when Wentz came out for practice at th start of the
school year. Wentz started on defense but eventually found his way on the
offensive side of the ball.
"We got him to come out for the
team about two days before school started," said Atlantic Shores head football
coach Wayne Lance. "He came to orientation and I asked him to consider it. He
showed up at the next practice and we brought him up to speed. The easiest place
for us to put him was defensive end. Less reading and more reacting. Will was
very raw as far as talent in the beginning but he has a 6-foot-4 frame, is very
athletic, and intelligent."
He
added, "It was important for us to define Will's role in the game plan at first
but the more he played, the more his natural abilities and instincts
developed--he became an impact player. We were also able to stand him up and
have him play some linebacker in situations."
Virginia, Illinois, and Clemson are among a host of D1
schools who have contacted Coach Lance about Wentz who has also received letters
Clemson, W&M, Lehigh, Army, Cornell, Holy Cross, Penn, and Northwestern.
"UCONN came to the school and watched me workout," wentz said. "I think that's the school that has the most interest in me. I'm probably going go on a visit there for the one day camp soon."
"As far
as college, it will be interesting to see," said Lance. "I see him
as a tight end or defensive end depending on
the program and what they are looking for. We've had some very talented
players here in the last few years that would get looks from one college at
a position and another college would like them somewhere else. He has been working
very hard even thru out the basketball season."
This post was edited on 4/30 5:45 PM by wgarlick
This post was edited on 5/5 10:44 PM by wgarlick
be considered a is a late-bloomer when it comes to playing on the gridiron but
that did not stop him from contributing to Atlantic Shores defending
state championship team.
"I played football all through out middle
school," Wentz said. "My freshmen year, I went to Cape Henry where they don't
have a football team so I couldn't play. When I moved to Cox High School, I was
more in to basketball and I just decided I didn't want to get hurt on the field
and miss basketball season. But since I came to Shores, I got back into it
because my dad told me would really help me get stronger and I'm really good so
why not take a chance because Coach Lance kept asking me to play."
The
Seahorses had a lot of positions to fill heading into the 2009 season and found
a diamond in the rough when Wentz came out for practice at th start of the
school year. Wentz started on defense but eventually found his way on the
offensive side of the ball.
"We got him to come out for the
team about two days before school started," said Atlantic Shores head football
coach Wayne Lance. "He came to orientation and I asked him to consider it. He
showed up at the next practice and we brought him up to speed. The easiest place
for us to put him was defensive end. Less reading and more reacting. Will was
very raw as far as talent in the beginning but he has a 6-foot-4 frame, is very
athletic, and intelligent."
He
added, "It was important for us to define Will's role in the game plan at first
but the more he played, the more his natural abilities and instincts
developed--he became an impact player. We were also able to stand him up and
have him play some linebacker in situations."
Virginia, Illinois, and Clemson are among a host of D1
schools who have contacted Coach Lance about Wentz who has also received letters
Clemson, W&M, Lehigh, Army, Cornell, Holy Cross, Penn, and Northwestern.
"UCONN came to the school and watched me workout," wentz said. "I think that's the school that has the most interest in me. I'm probably going go on a visit there for the one day camp soon."
"As far
as college, it will be interesting to see," said Lance. "I see him
as a tight end or defensive end depending on
the program and what they are looking for. We've had some very talented
players here in the last few years that would get looks from one college at
a position and another college would like them somewhere else. He has been working
very hard even thru out the basketball season."
This post was edited on 4/30 5:45 PM by wgarlick
This post was edited on 5/5 10:44 PM by wgarlick
