Ahmad Wagner headed to Kentucky
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
MikeyLikesIowa
Well-Known Member
This is a real head scratcher. I don't know what Kentucky can offer him that Iowa can't. The fact that he gives up one year of eligibility makes it even more perplexing.
mopkins
King Kong
Even if he went to Iowa he'd be redshirting this season anyway...so I don't really think it makes a difference. He probably just wants a fresh start.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
Good luck Ahmad. Seems like a great kid and I hope to see him playing on Sundays.
With that said I can’t help but think this is not the greatest decision. I was watching the draft on Saturday and they said that a player from every SEC school had been drafted except Kentucky, and a few jokes about the Kentucky football program ensued. This program is bad, like worst P5 program bad bad.
I’m not saying he should have stayed at Iowa, I think the best route for him would probably have been to go to a pass happy FCS team and play for two years. He needs to play and accumulate film for the scouts. I’m not sure Iowa’s coaching staff really has the creativity to use him.
But at Kentucky he’s only going to have one year to play for an atrocious program. What if he sprains his ankle in the first game of the year?
Like I said I wish him the best, I just wish he had someone in his camp helping him with these decisions. I think playing b-ball at Iowa was poor decision number one, and I don’t see this one being much better. Just my opinion.
With that said I can’t help but think this is not the greatest decision. I was watching the draft on Saturday and they said that a player from every SEC school had been drafted except Kentucky, and a few jokes about the Kentucky football program ensued. This program is bad, like worst P5 program bad bad.
I’m not saying he should have stayed at Iowa, I think the best route for him would probably have been to go to a pass happy FCS team and play for two years. He needs to play and accumulate film for the scouts. I’m not sure Iowa’s coaching staff really has the creativity to use him.
But at Kentucky he’s only going to have one year to play for an atrocious program. What if he sprains his ankle in the first game of the year?
Like I said I wish him the best, I just wish he had someone in his camp helping him with these decisions. I think playing b-ball at Iowa was poor decision number one, and I don’t see this one being much better. Just my opinion.
Fryowa
Administrator
He'd never see the field at Iowa. The only spot he'd be a fit is TE, and good luck doing that with the depth at that position. He's also only played one season of organized football in his entire life, his senior year of HS. It takes guys like Stanley and the O-lineman 3 years to feel comfortable with the playbook and by that time they've been playing ball for 7-8 years. I know playing WR isn't as complex as a QB or OL spot, but it's not just running routes either. He has to learn how to shake B1G cornerbacks, catch 60 MPH passes with his hands, block defenders, etc. You don't just step on a field and do that after 60 months of practice.
Also, he worked out for Iowa. If he got the vibe from coaches that he'd play in two years don't you think he'd have stayed? I'd imagine he got there and realized he'd be special teams material. Kentucky's pretty horrible at football, at least there he'd obviously have 1) a chance to play, and 2) time to figure out what he's doing first.
$50 says his people are filling his head with Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham stories. It's great to have dreams and I hope he tears it up, but he's not that level.
IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
Who needs a guy like Wagner to play WR at Iowa. We've got plenty of 5'9, 170lb white walkons from LeMars or Keokuk ready to fill the void.
spliff45
Well-Known Member
I believe he'll be on scholarship there whereas Iowa can not currently provide that.
EstronHawkKing
Well-Known Member
I wonder if Calipari has contacted him yet to try out for their b-ball team?
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
"So all I had to do was leave Iowa?" Drew Ott
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
Great article on Hawk Central about Ahmad. I really appreciated this guy as a basketball player, though I know he was not a star. Hard work, no complaints, good teammate from all I have read/heard. I wish him all the luck in the world at Kentucky. I think it was a good decision. If he has a future in football, he will have a chance to show it as a Wildcat; he needs to get playing time right away, whereas at Iowa he would have been just another in a long line of quality tight ends.
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
Great article on Hawk Central about Ahmad. I really appreciated this guy as a basketball player, though I know he was not a star. Hard work, no complaints, good teammate from all I have read/heard. I wish him all the luck in the world at Kentucky. I think it was a good decision. If he has a future in football, he will have a chance to show it as a Wildcat; he needs to get playing time right away, whereas at Iowa he would have been just another in a long line of quality tight ends.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
what would it say about Iowa football if a basketball player could join the football team and would be able to make the 2-deep at WR. AW was never going to get a scholly offer from kirky.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Totally nailed it.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
I admit I was somewhat intrigued at the possibility of Wagner being a tall receiver outside. If Iowa was going to do that sort of thing though, I think Shaun Beyer (6-5, 240) would be more likely possibility. I believe he was a high jumper in high school.
