I was pretty shocked when I saw that he committed. I think ND has pulled more coaches out of Wayne high school in Huber Heights, Ohio than it has players. To get a player of this caliber from a public school an hour away from Columbus is a big deal.
Early in the recruiting process I felt that ND needed a true OT. It seems that my man Joey Tanona has shaped his body into an interior lineman, and for all the skills that Ty Chan has, I'd like to see him on the inside, although there's a possibility that he could play RT. Ashton Craig will end up at center in my opinion, and is a bigger version of Zeke.
Aamil Wagner is the missing piece, and is someone I believe has everything it takes to be a very good LT. He looks to be all of 6'6" on film because he's a lot taller than most of the guys he's playing against, and those are players from Division 1, Ohio's top division. Maybe if Mike or Greg has seen him in person they can comment. His length is outstanding, and the way he gets his long arms on an opponent backs that up. I've always felt that you can tell a ton about an OT when he blocks on a stretch play. It shows his reach, his footwork, and how quickly he can move laterally. Watch his film because his team runs it a lot, and Wagner is exceptional. If he plays to his potential in college then I can see ND running outside zone plays until they get tired of doing it. He also does a great job of getting out to the second level, finding the LB, and staying in balance when he engages. He actually did that once on a stretch play, and was the highlight of his tape!
Wagner is more than just being athletic. If you watch how he drives his feet when he engages a defender, uses his hands on a stretch play or in pass pro, and then finishes things off, you can tell that he's taken to some coaching, and has that fire in him.
He still has some work to do, and that's filling out his big frame. Keep in mind that I've posted junior film, and he looks a bit on the slim side, but then again so did Mike McGlinchey, and Wagner is far ahead of Mike at that age in the athleticism department. I can't wait to see some senior film, and see if he's packed on some weight, but regardless, he'll have the time to do it because we don't need him playing as a true freshman.
As it stands right now ND has filled it's needs with 4 good lineman, and having a true OT is what I was personally waiting on. If I'm the staff I stay with 4 unless Schrauth pulls the trigger, and adding him would make this class exceptional based on the ceiling they all have.
Early in the recruiting process I felt that ND needed a true OT. It seems that my man Joey Tanona has shaped his body into an interior lineman, and for all the skills that Ty Chan has, I'd like to see him on the inside, although there's a possibility that he could play RT. Ashton Craig will end up at center in my opinion, and is a bigger version of Zeke.
Aamil Wagner is the missing piece, and is someone I believe has everything it takes to be a very good LT. He looks to be all of 6'6" on film because he's a lot taller than most of the guys he's playing against, and those are players from Division 1, Ohio's top division. Maybe if Mike or Greg has seen him in person they can comment. His length is outstanding, and the way he gets his long arms on an opponent backs that up. I've always felt that you can tell a ton about an OT when he blocks on a stretch play. It shows his reach, his footwork, and how quickly he can move laterally. Watch his film because his team runs it a lot, and Wagner is exceptional. If he plays to his potential in college then I can see ND running outside zone plays until they get tired of doing it. He also does a great job of getting out to the second level, finding the LB, and staying in balance when he engages. He actually did that once on a stretch play, and was the highlight of his tape!
Wagner is more than just being athletic. If you watch how he drives his feet when he engages a defender, uses his hands on a stretch play or in pass pro, and then finishes things off, you can tell that he's taken to some coaching, and has that fire in him.
He still has some work to do, and that's filling out his big frame. Keep in mind that I've posted junior film, and he looks a bit on the slim side, but then again so did Mike McGlinchey, and Wagner is far ahead of Mike at that age in the athleticism department. I can't wait to see some senior film, and see if he's packed on some weight, but regardless, he'll have the time to do it because we don't need him playing as a true freshman.
As it stands right now ND has filled it's needs with 4 good lineman, and having a true OT is what I was personally waiting on. If I'm the staff I stay with 4 unless Schrauth pulls the trigger, and adding him would make this class exceptional based on the ceiling they all have.
