Draft Profile: Bio

Wagner arrived at Notre Dame in 2022 as a four-star recruit from Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. After redshirting his freshman year, he appeared in seven games as a reserve tackle during his sophomore season before earning the starting right tackle job in 2024. The 6'6", 290-pound lineman started all 16 games during Notre Dame's playoff run, establishing himself as a reliable presence despite his limited prior experience.

Despite entering the 2024 season with just 52 career snaps, Wagner quickly became one of Notre Dame's most consistent offensive linemen. He allowed only two sacks across 496 pass-blocking snaps while registering an impressive 84.99 run-blocking grade. His athletic background includes success in track and field, where he placed third in Ohio's Division I State Championships with a 58-10.5 shot put throw.

Wagner's emergence continues Notre Dame's strong tradition of developing NFL-caliber offensive linemen. Following in the footsteps of recent top-60 selections Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, Wagner has steadily improved his technique and strength while maintaining the exceptional movement skills that made him a coveted recruit out of high school.

STRENGTHS:

• Shows exceptional lateral agility in pass protection, mirroring edge rushers with fluid hip transitions and precise footwork that keeps him balanced against speed moves.
• Runs his feet on contact in the run game with a nasty finishing mentality – drives defenders off their spot and looks to plant them when he gets leverage advantage.
• Possesses rare recovery ability when initially beaten – can redirect quickly and regain positioning due to his basketball-like nimbleness and body control.
• Demonstrates advanced hand placement technique on zone blocks, consistently targeting and controlling defenders' inside shoulder with well-timed strikes.
• Operates with impressive leverage despite his height, consistently works to establish lower pad level and delivers power through his hips rather than leaning.
• Processes stunts and twists with veteran awareness – rarely appears confused by complex pressure packages and communicates adjustments effectively pre-snap.
• Shows some dog in him when working to the second level – tracks linebackers with precision and doesn't just make contact but actively walls them off from the play.
• Maintains his anchor against power rushers through proper knee bend and core strength – seldom gets walked back into the quarterback despite weight concerns.

WEAKNESSES:

• Carries concerning weight deficiency at 290 pounds – will need additional 15-20 pounds of functional mass to handle NFL power without sacrificing his movement skills.
• Still developing consistent punch timing – will occasionally miss his initial strike, creating vulnerabilities that savvier NFL defenders will exploit with counters.
• Can get overextended lunging at moving targets in space, causing him to whiff completely against more elusive second-level defenders in crucial situations.
• Allowed 29 pressures last season despite limited sack numbers – pressure-to-sack conversion rate suggests some technical inconsistencies need refinement.
• Shows occasional lapses maintaining blocks through the whistle – will make initial contact but sometimes fails to sustain through the entire play's duration.

NFL FIT:

Wagner projects as a scheme-versatile tackle who will thrive in systems emphasizing movement and athleticism on the edge. His footwork and recovery ability make him particularly valuable in pass-heavy offenses where he can showcase his exceptional mirroring skills. While his current frame suggests right tackle as his initial NFL position, his length and athleticism don't rule out left tackle potential if he can add necessary mass without compromising his movement skills.

Teams running zone-heavy schemes will covet his ability to reach and seal edge defenders while climbing efficiently to linebackers. The weight concerns will drop him below his talent level on some boards, but smart offensive line coaches will see a player with day one starter upside after a year in an NFL strength program. His athletic ceiling exceeds several tackles who will be selected ahead of him.

Though he enters the league less physically developed than ideal, Wagner's technical foundation and movement skills translate immediately. His track record of steady improvement at Notre Dame suggests he's just scratching the surface of his potential. With the right developmental plan, he has the tools to become a cornerstone tackle for the next decade – the type of prospect whose draft position we'll question in hindsight five years from now.