Wagner emerges as a football prospect
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne's Ahmad Wagner committed to Iowa for basketball in August, but just four games into his senior season has emerged as a Division I football prospect.
This is Wagner's first year playing varsity football, and Wayne head football coach Jay Minton has been blown away by what his senior wide receiver has shown in such a short time.
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"There's a three-letter word that describes what that kid is right now, and it's 'Wow,'" Minton said. "We kind of thought that he might be that, but you just never know."
A 6-foot-6, 215-pound wide receiver, Wagner has unique physical tools that have allowed him to make an immediate impact on a 4-0 Wayne team.
"People talk about potential - he has an unlimited amount of ability," Minton said. "He can be as good as he wants to be. He's strong when he catches the ball and he can run with it. He's a low 4.5, maybe even a high 4.4 kid."
The numbers are also being produced on the field this year, and even though he has played just nine quarters due to Wayne registering several blowouts, Wagner has caught 18 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns. His abilities could project to several positions in college.
"Because of his speed, I think he'll always be (outside) and I think people are looking for big receivers now. He runs like a deer," Minton said. "His frame is big enough that if he really concentrated on putting on the weight he could play tight end too."
Even though he is just four games into the season, Wagner's performance has already drawn the attention of Power Five Conference football programs.
"Kentucky offered him," Minton said. "Ohio State is showing some interest. Michigan and Notre Dame saw him last week and Coach (Mike) Elston made a call back and said 'we've got to look at this kid right away.'"
How the football/basketball dynamic plays out after the offer from Kentucky and interest from several football programs remains to be seen, but Minton noted Wagner has "that fever back" for the pigskin and the football opportunities are being weighed.
On the basketball court, Wagner is rated as a three-star power forward, but Iowa is talking about both the 3 and 4 positions with him. He took his official visit to Iowa City the weekend of Sept. 6, in conjunction with the Hawkeye's home football game against Ball State.