Notre Dame earned one of their more surprising commitments in 2022 offensive tackle Aamil Wagner. However, the Dayton, Ohio product made it official, putting pen to paper during the Early Signing Period. Wagner’s commitment gives the Irish three of the top-15 tackles in the class.
Wagner’s commitment came as a huge surprise. A four-star and 12th-ranked offensive tackle, Wagner visited Kentucky for the season opener in 2021. He followed that with visits to Ohio State and Penn State in the next two weeks. Although Wagner did visit the Irish in June, the lack of a fall visit seemed to knock Notre Dame down a few pegs. Kentucky and Ohio State remained favorites for Wagner throughout the fall. However, just over a month ago, on November 11, Wagner verbally committed to the Irish.
Aamil Wagner Boasts High Ceiling
No doubt, Aamil Wagner is a bit of a longer-term recruit for the Irish. They are currently relatively young on their offensive line, which underwent significant changes from its first evolution in the fall. Freshman Joe Alt stepped up this year and looks to be locked in as a starter. Freshman Blake Fisher was a starter before going down with an injury. And junior Andrew Kristofic stepped into a starting role as well. With depth ready to fill the 1-2 starting roles that become available, that makes Wagner less likely to be an immediate contributor. At 6’6 and 265 pounds, Wagner is definitely on the leaner side of offensive linemen. He would instantly be the lightest offensive lineman in the Irish locker room by about 20 pounds. That being said, the prowess and athleticism Wagner shows are incredibly promising.
The Ohio native plays a punishing style and finishes blocks with violence. His technique is strong, and the most improvement will come from adding to his frame. Wagner is a multi-sport athlete, terrorizing opponents in the paint in basketball and becoming a fearsome shotputter. As he focuses on football, he figures to improve quickly. Once Notre Dame’s vaunted strength and conditioning program gets to Wagner, expect him to become a multi-year starter for the Irish.
