The Philadelphia Eagles continue to mine a familiar pipeline, and their latest addition comes with a résumé that checks several important boxes. Like new Eagles quarterback Cole Payton, safety Cole Wisniewski cut his teeth at Carson Wentz's alma mater, the North Dakota State Bison. The NFL is a long way from where their collegiate careers originated, but there's an old saying.
Scout the player, not the helmet. Do so with Wisniewski, and you find much that you'll see as being intriguing. Here are three things to know about Philadelphia's new safety.
Here's a bonus. He is not related to Stefen Wisniewski. 1. He bounced back from adversityCole Wisniewski's college career was defined as much by resilience as it was production.
During his time at North Dakota State, he developed into one of the more reliable defensive backs at the FCS level. He piled up tackles, pass breakups, and interceptions while earning All-American recognition. However, his momentum was temporarily halted by a foot injury that required surgery and sidelined him for an entire season.
Rather than derail his trajectory, the setback became part of his story. It's one that now highlights both perseverance and long-term upside. There's nothing more dangerous than a young man with much to prove to the world and himself.2.
He was Cole Payton's NCAA teammate for four seasons.There's already a level of comfort waiting for him in Philadelphia. Wisniewski spent four seasons as a teammate of fellow Eagles rookie quarterback Cole Payton at North Dakota State, giving the two a built-in connection as they make the jump to the NFL together. Both players also share ties to Carson Wentz's alma mater, continuing a trend of the Eagles leaning on a program that has quietly produced NFL-ready talent.3.
A proven winnerWinning follows Wisniewski. During his time with the Bison, he and Payton were both part of two FCS national championship teams. They gained valuable experience in high-pressure environments.
That pedigree matters, especially for a team like Philadelphia that values players who understand what it takes to compete deep into the postseason. In short, the Eagles didn't just add depth to the secondary. They added a player with experience, familiarity, and a championship mindset. All are traits that tend to carry over well to the next level.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 3 things to know about the Eagles' 7th-round safety Cole Wisniewski