Hope everything goes well for him at Kentucky. Just didn't work out as a basketball player at Iowa.
Ahmad Wagner’s heart was set on playing college basketball. Despite earning a four-star ranking as a wide receiver in the 2015 class, Wagner turned down football opportunities to attend the University of Iowa on a basketball scholarship.
“It just broke my heart that he went and played basketball,” said Kentucky tight ends coach Vince Marrow, who recruited Wagner in high school. “I mean, the dude was probably the No. 1, No. 2 (football) prospect in the state of Ohio and we went and played basketball. You go to Iowa to play basketball, that tells you what type of athlete he is. I know this, his senior year when he played in the state championship game, there were over 10 D-1 players in that game. A lot of guys are at Ohio State, a lot of guys are at Michigan. He was the best player on the field.”
But after playing in 96 games over three seasons under Iowa coach Fran Mccaffery, Wagner had a change of heart. He decided to return to the football field and transferred to Kentucky in May. Wagner was expecting to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules, but he was ruled eligible to compete right away and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
I just didn’t want to live with any regret,” Wagner said on his decision to play football. “It’s something that’s been on my mind a while. I do love basketball but I also have a love for football. It’s something I wanted to pursue. After a while I just decided that’s what I’m gonna do. Just stuck to it and made the change.”
Marrow had a feeling Wagner would one day return to the football field. He stayed in contact with the coaching staff at Wayne High School and learned that Wagner was considering leaving Iowa.
"It was kind of like Bo Jackson,” Marrow said. “You knew the itch for baseball would come back. I knew (Wagner) would get the itch to come back. I knew it. I just felt it. It’s such a rewarding thing that he’s out here. And I think people are going to see real fast who he is.”
Wagner will get his opportunity to shake off some rust as camp opens for the Wildcats on Friday. He’s not played in a few years, and only played during his senior year of high school, but Wagner’s size is nearly unmatched on the team. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 238-pounds. Wagner caught 58 passes for 1,028 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior.
247Sports recruiting analyst Bill Greene said Wagner has pro potential.
“I have no doubt that had he chosen to go the football route out of high school that he would’ve been a great college receiver,” Greene told Catspause.com. “He has the size, speed, athletic ability and body control coaches love. If he can make this transition to football now he has NFL talent.”
The Huber Heights, Ohio, native chose the Wildcats because of his trust in the coaching staff. Kentucky receiver Dorian Baker, who missed last season with an ankle injury, is excited to see what Wagner adds to the group.
“It’s nice to have someone on the outside that can match my size,” Baker said. “He’s another threat on the outside that teams are going to have to worry about because of his size and his ability. I’m excited to have him and see what he can do during camp.”
Wagner knows he has a ways to go to catch up on the time he’s missed. He said things like route running and the fundamentals of the game will be his focus during camp. As far as his expectations this season?
“Just to do everything I can to show the coaches I’m ready to play,” Wagner said. “I have a lot of rust to knock off. Just put in work and preparation to let the coaches know I’m ready and available at all times.”
Ahmad Wagner’s heart was set on playing college basketball. Despite earning a four-star ranking as a wide receiver in the 2015 class, Wagner turned down football opportunities to attend the University of Iowa on a basketball scholarship.
“It just broke my heart that he went and played basketball,” said Kentucky tight ends coach Vince Marrow, who recruited Wagner in high school. “I mean, the dude was probably the No. 1, No. 2 (football) prospect in the state of Ohio and we went and played basketball. You go to Iowa to play basketball, that tells you what type of athlete he is. I know this, his senior year when he played in the state championship game, there were over 10 D-1 players in that game. A lot of guys are at Ohio State, a lot of guys are at Michigan. He was the best player on the field.”
But after playing in 96 games over three seasons under Iowa coach Fran Mccaffery, Wagner had a change of heart. He decided to return to the football field and transferred to Kentucky in May. Wagner was expecting to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules, but he was ruled eligible to compete right away and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
I just didn’t want to live with any regret,” Wagner said on his decision to play football. “It’s something that’s been on my mind a while. I do love basketball but I also have a love for football. It’s something I wanted to pursue. After a while I just decided that’s what I’m gonna do. Just stuck to it and made the change.”
Marrow had a feeling Wagner would one day return to the football field. He stayed in contact with the coaching staff at Wayne High School and learned that Wagner was considering leaving Iowa.
"It was kind of like Bo Jackson,” Marrow said. “You knew the itch for baseball would come back. I knew (Wagner) would get the itch to come back. I knew it. I just felt it. It’s such a rewarding thing that he’s out here. And I think people are going to see real fast who he is.”
Wagner will get his opportunity to shake off some rust as camp opens for the Wildcats on Friday. He’s not played in a few years, and only played during his senior year of high school, but Wagner’s size is nearly unmatched on the team. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 238-pounds. Wagner caught 58 passes for 1,028 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior.
247Sports recruiting analyst Bill Greene said Wagner has pro potential.
“I have no doubt that had he chosen to go the football route out of high school that he would’ve been a great college receiver,” Greene told Catspause.com. “He has the size, speed, athletic ability and body control coaches love. If he can make this transition to football now he has NFL talent.”
The Huber Heights, Ohio, native chose the Wildcats because of his trust in the coaching staff. Kentucky receiver Dorian Baker, who missed last season with an ankle injury, is excited to see what Wagner adds to the group.
“It’s nice to have someone on the outside that can match my size,” Baker said. “He’s another threat on the outside that teams are going to have to worry about because of his size and his ability. I’m excited to have him and see what he can do during camp.”
Wagner knows he has a ways to go to catch up on the time he’s missed. He said things like route running and the fundamentals of the game will be his focus during camp. As far as his expectations this season?
“Just to do everything I can to show the coaches I’m ready to play,” Wagner said. “I have a lot of rust to knock off. Just put in work and preparation to let the coaches know I’m ready and available at all times.”
