COLUMN: The Case for Bobby Wagner
Media members covering WAC football teams were mailed their preseason ballots this past week, and for a first-time voter like me, the decisions of where to rank the conference’s nine teams – not to mention choosing offensive and defensive players of the year – took a great deal of mental strain and contemplative thought.
For me — a longtime beat writer for the Navy Midshipmen — the idea of ranking teams for a preseason poll hasn’t been something I’ve ever given much thought to. With nine teams in the WAC, the decision over which to proclaim preseason “champion” was a tough one.
Oh who am I kidding? Any media member not ranking Boise State first in their media poll probably needs their head examined, because with a loaded roster coming back after an undefeated season the Broncos look like an unstoppable force heading into their final year in the WAC.
Boise State might be the overwhelming and unanimous choice to repeat as conference champion; and BSU quarterback Kellen Moore and Nevada signal caller Colin Kaepernick will likely split votes for Conference Offensive Player of the Year, but when it comes to choosing the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, I’ve chosen to go with a sleeper candidate.
That’s right Aggie fans, none other than USU linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Homerism, you ask? Nothing more than a young reporter looking to grab some headlines for spurning the likes of Idaho superstar Shiloh Keo or Boise State defensive end Ryan Winterswyk? Hardly.
Wagner might not be the biggest name defender in the WAC, but he’s by no means the kind of under-the-radar impact performer who is just starting to catch opposing teams’ eyes. First-Team All-WAC in 2009, Wagner’s accolades start with leading the conference in total tackles (115) last season, but they don’t end there. Only a sophomore, Wagner wasn’t just a leader and playmaker on Utah State’s often overwhelmed defense, he was the Utah State defense. That’s not to take anything away from numerous other Aggie defenders, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more active middle linebacker in the country, much less the WAC.
Wagner, an elite athlete, had seven tackles for a loss last year, and recorded an amazing one-handed interception to help set up a field goal in the Aggies’ win over Louisiana Tech. He also had an interception against BYU. But even by leading the Aggie defense, there was only so much the middle linebacker could do.
Calling last year’s Aggie defense a work in progress is putting it lightly. Truth be told, USU struggled mightily against the run and the pass in 2009, and the Aggie defensive line proved to be the most overwhelmed in the entire conference. Giving up an average of over 200 yards on the ground per game, USU’ line was also amongst the worst in generating sacks and tackles for a loss.
Not exactly circumstances conducive to the success of a middle linebacker.
Fortunately for Wagner, prospects look brighter for the big-men up front in 2010. USU’s defensive line may not be lights out in 2010, and it won’t challenge Boise’s for the top mark in the conference, but it will be among the more improved units in the country. Anyone who saw Andersen’s defenses at Utah knows that he only needs time to gather the pieces to craft a similar style of attacking defense in Logan, and when he does, you can bet Bobby Wagner will take full advantage of the extra help up front.
There’s also the point of Wagner moving to the outside, where his 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed should be better put to use. Incredibly rangy, Wagner has the rare ability to pass rush off the edge and pursue ballcarriers from the inside out, which means that while his total tackles may drop in 2010, it’s likely that his tackles for a loss and sacks will increase. Perhaps most impressive is his physical conditioning, which, coupled with his athleticism and versatility, will allow him to stay on the field regardless of what packages the opposing offenses show this season. In that way Wagner represents the kind of do-it-all defender opposing offenses have to scheme around, with quarterbacks barking out signals and identifying just where he is on the field on every single play.
There won’t be many surprises when it comes to the preseason WAC media poll, but when it comes to projecting the conference’s most impactful defensive player, media members and fan alike shouldn’t overlook Wagner. Playing for one of the most innovative defensive minds in the game today, and fueled by a relentless weight-room work ethic and high football IQ, this already bright star is primed for what could be a record-setting year in 2010.