Over on the basketball forum, @Fryowa detailed all of the challenges that will make it difficult for Wagner to go to any program and be an immediate contributor.
As far as how to use him, putting Wagner on the outside would probably come with the easiest learning curve. However, he would be a matchup nightmare if he played the same type of "move TE" position that Fant has played the last few years; Wagner is almost the exact same weight that Fant was at last season, and by motioning him and changing alignment, he could be isolated on LBs and safeties and exploit mismatches. That could either be while backing up Fant, or if Fant has improved enough as a blocker that he can play inline more, as a complement to Fant.
Then again, we probably need more help outside than at TE, as it sounds like Beyer is already ascending for that 3rd receiving TE position.
Playing receiver at a college level is more than being able to jump high and catch high school level rainbows. He'd all the sudden have to learn to shake D-1 defenders who are just as fast if not faster than him (no it's not the same as basketball), run routes, block, and catch laser passes that even veteran receivers struggle with. Some of you are making this overly simplistic. And before anyone gives me the "he was a top 300 football recruit," spiel, that's not relevant anymore. It may have been when he was a high school senior and had the chance to practice and develop for 4 years, but not anymore.
I agree with much of this. But to play Devil's advocate to his Devil's advocate, I can think of some reasons he could come in and contribute here at Iowa especially:
- Last year we had 3 true freshmen get reps at WR; they were all multisport athletes who had never focused exclusively on FB (ISM gave up track his senior year to focus on FB skills); the coaching staff was able to get them up to speed soon enough to contribute
- Unlike the above-mentioned true freshmen, Wagner will not have to adjust to D1 football AND college at the same time; that will make his path so much easier
- Unlike the above-mentioned true freshmen, Wagner already has a grown-man's body and has benefited from 3 years of high-level strength and conditioning
- Unlike the above-mentioned true freshmen, Wagner has already competed at the D1 level on a big stage, in a sport with a much more glaring spotlight than football
- If Wagner made a decision soon, he could participate in most of spring football, and then catch from his future QB for 5 months before the season got under way
As far as how to use him, putting Wagner on the outside would probably come with the easiest learning curve. However, he would be a matchup nightmare if he played the same type of "move TE" position that Fant has played the last few years; Wagner is almost the exact same weight that Fant was at last season, and by motioning him and changing alignment, he could be isolated on LBs and safeties and exploit mismatches. That could either be while backing up Fant, or if Fant has improved enough as a blocker that he can play inline more, as a complement to Fant.
Then again, we probably need more help outside than at TE, as it sounds like Beyer is already ascending for that 3rd receiving TE position.
