Bobby Wagner's College Football Career at Utah State

Bobby Joseph Wagner, born on June 27, 1990, is an American professional football linebacker currently playing for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Before his successful NFL career, Wagner played college football for the Utah State Aggies, where he established himself as a dominant defensive player.

High School Career

Before joining Utah State, Bobby Wagner attended Colony High School in Ontario, California, where he played for the Titans. In his senior year in 2007, he recorded 125 tackles (92 solo, 33 assists), including four sacks. He also contributed on offense as a tight end, catching 37 passes for 595 yards and 11 touchdowns. His performance earned him all-CIF Central Division honors, all-Mount Baldy League accolades, and second-team California Division 2 all-state honors. He was also named to the All-San Bernardino County team.

College Career at Utah State

Wagner's college career at Utah State saw him develop into one of the top linebackers in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). He consistently led the team in tackles and earned numerous accolades for his performance.

2008 Season (Freshman)

In 2008, Wagner played in 11 games and started the last nine games of the season. He recorded 51 total tackles (20 solo, 31 assists), ranking sixth on the team overall and third among returning players. He also added two tackles for loss, two pass break-ups, and one quarterback hurry. His best game was against Louisiana Tech, where he recorded a career-high 10 tackles.

2009 Season (Sophomore)

Wagner started all 12 games in 2009, one of four defensive players and one of eight players overall to do so. He led the WAC with 115 tackles (53 solo, 62 assists), averaging 9.6 tackles per game. In conference-only games, he also led the league with 71 total stops (35 solo, 36 assists), averaging 8.9 tackles per game, which ranked 22nd in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). He added seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass break-up. Wagner's 115 tackles were the second-most by a USU sophomore. He posted six double-figure tackle outings, led by a season-best 13 at Texas A&M and against Boise State. He also had 12 stops each in games against Utah and BYU, while logging 11 at New Mexico State and 10 against San Jose State. He had interceptions in games against Louisiana Tech and Idaho, and fumble recoveries in the first and last games of the season, against Utah and Idaho, respectively.

Read also: The Rise of Bobby Portis

2010 Season (Junior)

Wagner continued his impressive performance in 2010, playing in and starting all 12 games. He led the WAC and ranked tied for seventh in FBS with 11.1 tackles per game, totaling 133 tackles, which ranked second in the WAC. He also added eight tackles for loss with half a sack, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble. Wagner had a WAC-best four 15+ tackle outings, including two 17-stop games, a 16-tackle game, and a 15-tackle outing. He logged a total of seven double-digit tackle games and had at least six stops in all 12 games. One of his career-best 17 tackles came against New Mexico State, earning him WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He was also nominated for WAC Defensive Player of the Week in six other games.

2011 Season (Senior)

Wagner received several preseason accolades and watch list nominations, including the Butkus Award Trophy Preseason Watch List, Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, and several preseason All-WAC team selections.

College Statistics and Honors

Throughout his college career, Bobby Wagner consistently demonstrated his ability to make tackles, disrupt plays, and lead the Utah State defense. His statistics and honors reflect his impact on the team:

Tackles: Wagner amassed a significant number of tackles during his college career, consistently leading his team and the conference in this category.
Interceptions: Wagner showcased his ability to read quarterbacks and make impactful plays in coverage, contributing to his team's defensive efforts.
All-Conference Honors: Wagner's outstanding performance earned him multiple All-WAC selections.
WAC Defensive Player of the Week: Wagner's outstanding performance in specific games was recognized with the WAC Defensive Player of the Week award.
All-American Recognition: Wagner's exceptional play garnered attention from national media outlets.

Senior Bowl and NFL Draft

On January 14, 2012, Wagner accepted an invitation to play in the 2012 Senior Bowl, becoming the first Utah State player to participate since Chris Cooley in 2004. In the Senior Bowl, Wagner recorded 22 combined tackles and an interception for the North team, which was coached by Leslie Frazier. The North team defeated the South team 23-13, and Wagner was named the Senior Bowl MVP and the North's Most Outstanding Player.

Wagner received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine but was unable to attend due to pneumonia. On March 30, 2012, he attended Utah State's Pro Day and impressed scouts and team representatives by performing all of the combine drills. His performance solidified his position as a top linebacker prospect. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Wagner was projected to be a second-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.

Read also: State College Connection

Professional Career

Wagner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Throughout his NFL career, he has been recognized as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history and is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2013. He is also a ten-time Pro Bowler, an eleven-time All-Pro selection, a three-time NFL tackles leader, and leads all active players in career tackles. Wagner also won the Art Rooney Award in 2023. In 2024, Wagner signed with the Washington Commanders.

2012 Season

Wagner entered training camp competing for the vacant starting middle linebacker role against Barrett Ruud and Matt McCoy. Head coach Pete Carroll named Wagner the starting middle linebacker. He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Seahawks season-opener against the Arizona Cardinals and recorded four combined tackles during their 20-16 loss. In Week 5, Wagner recorded five combined tackles and made his first career sack on Cam Newton in the Seahawks' 16-12 victory. The next week, he made a season-high 14 combined tackles in a 24-23 victory against the New England Patriots. On November 25, 2012, Wagner recorded nine combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted his first career pass off Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill during a 24-21 loss. On December 9, 2012, he collected eight combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted two passes off of John Skelton in a 58-0 routing against the Arizona Cardinals. Wagner finished his rookie season with 140 combined tackles (87 solo), four pass deflections, and three interceptions.

2013 Season

Wagner remained the starting middle linebacker to start the 2013 regular season under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. On September 22, 2013, he recorded nine combined tackles, deflected a pass, and intercepted Chad Henne as the Seahawks defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 45-17. Wagner missed the first two games of his career (Weeks 6-7) after suffering a high ankle sprain. In Week 9, Wagner collected 11 combined tackles and was credited with 1.5 sacks on Mike Glennon during a 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On December 29, 2013, he made a season-high 12 combined tackles during a 27-9 victory against the St. Louis Rams.

2014 Season

Wagner, K. J. Wright, and Bruce Irvin returned as the starting linebacker corps in 2014. Wagner started the Seahawks' season-opener against the Green Bay Packers and recorded a season-high 14 combined tackles during a 36-16 victory on Thursday Night Football. Unfortunately, he missed five games (Weeks 7-11) after suffering turf toe. On December 14, 2014, Wagner recorded his fourth game with at least ten combined tackles and sacked Colin Kaepernick during a 17-7 victory over the 49ers.

2015 Season

Irvin, Wright, and Wagner remained the starters under new defensive coordinator Kris Richard to begin 2015. On October 11, 2015, Wagner recorded seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery, and scored his first career touchdown during a 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive end Michael Bennett caused Bengals' running back Rex Burkhead to fumble in the third quarter, which Wagner recovered and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. Wagner missed the Seahawks' Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers with a pectoral strain. In Week 10, Wagner collected 11 combined tackles, deflected a pass, recovered a fumble, and scored his second touchdown of the season, as the Seahawks lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 39-32. In the fourth quarter of that game, linebacker K. J. Wright sacked quarterback Carson Palmer for a nine-yard loss and jarred the ball loose resulting in a fumble. He finished the 2015 season with 114 combined tackles (67 solo) and seven pass deflections, and was credited with only half a sack in 15 games and 15 starts.

2017 Season

On September 17, 2017, he recorded seven combined tackles, deflected two passes, and made his first interception of the season off of a pass by Brian Hoyer during a 12-9 win over the 49ers. On November 5, 2017, Wagner recorded a season-high 12 combined tackles, deflected a pass, and sacked Redskins' quarterback Kirk Cousins for the first safety of his career in the Seahawks' 17-14 loss. He finished the 2017 season with 133 combined tackles (97 solo), six pass deflections, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and a safety in 16 games and 16 starts. On December 19, 2017, Wagner was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl.

2018 Season

On December 2, Wagner logged 12 combined tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and two takeaways near the goal line in a 43-16 home win over the 49ers. For his first takeaway, in the second quarter, he forced a fumble from Jeffery Wilson at the Seahawk 5-yard line, recovered it at the 3, and returned it 11 yards to the 14. Later, in the fourth quarter, he intercepted a pass from Nick Mullens at the 2-yard line and ran it back 98 yards for a touchdown, his first career pick six, to set the Seahawk franchise record for longest play. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his game against San Francisco. On December 10, against the Minnesota Vikings, Wagner was a part of many key third and fourth down stops as well as blocking a field goal by kicker Dan Bailey. In the 2018 season, Wagner had one sack, 138 total tackles (84 solo), one interception, 11 passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Wagner was named first-team All-Pro along with teammate Michael Dickson.

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