HOW ACQUIRED:
Drafted with the 15th pick in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Eleventh linebacker chosen in the second round in club history (Last: Lofa Tatupu, 2005). Second and highest player drafted out of Utah State in club history.
COLLEGE:
A three-time All-Western Athletic Conference first-team choice by the league’s coaches and media who started 46-of-48 games at Utah State (21 at strong-side linebacker and 25 at weak-side linebacker). Finished his career with 446 tackles (201 solo), 4.5 sacks for minus 35 yards, 29.5 tackles for losses of 80 yards and eight quarterback pressures. Caused two fumbles and recovered three others, while recording seven passes defensed and intercepting four balls for 51 yards in returns. His 446 tackles tied the school career-record that was first set by Del Lyles (1988-91), becoming only the fourth player in WAC history to record more than 400 tackles, breaking the league all-time record of 443 tackles by Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04). Senior: Named an All-American Dream Team choice and WAC Defensive Player of the Year by The NFL Draft Report. Registered a career-best 147 tackles (67 solo), ranking fifth on the school’s and seventh on the league’s seasonrecord chart. Finished eighth in the nation with an average of 11.31 tackles per game, pacing an Aggies unit that led the WAC in total defense (366.23 ypg) and placed second in rush defense (127.27 ypg). Also added a career-high four sacks for minus 32 yards and led the team for a second time with 11.5 tackles for losses totaling 41 yards. Accrued four quarterback pressures, while recovering one fumble and intercepting two passes for 19 total return yards. Junior: Led the team and WAC and finished tied for seventh in the nation with an average of 11.08 tackles per game, as he recorded 133 stops (61 solo), an assisted sack and ranked second on the team with eight tackles for losses of 15 yards. Also had a quarterback pressure, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed. Sophomore: Took over weak-side linebacker duties, as he led the team and WAC with an average of 9.5 tackles per game. Racked up 115 tackles (53 solo) to go with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass defensed and a pair of quarterback pressures. His 115 tackles rank second-most by a Utah State sophomore (Johndale Carty, 138, 1996) and he became the first sophomore to lead Utah State in tackles since 1994 (David Gill, 89). Named Academic All-WAC. Freshman: Played in 11 games, starting the final nine at left outside linebacker, where he finished sixth on the team with 51 stops (20 solo) and tallied two tackles for loss, a quarterback pressure and two passes defensed. PERSONAL: Dubbed the “Hardest Hitter” in college by The Sporting News, becoming the first player to ever lead the conference in tackles three consecutive seasons and is one of four to accomplish that feat at Utah State. One of 30 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) studentathletes selected as a candidate for the 2011 Lowe’s Award for excellence both on and off the field.
PERSONAL:
Attended Colony High School where he lettered as a tight end and linebacker, guiding the team in each of his final two seasons to consecutive 12-2 finishes, capturing the CIF division title. Named to the All-CIF Central Division squad as a senior and picked up All-State California Division II second-team honors, as he recorded 125 tackles (92 solo) and four sacks, while hauling in 37 receptions for 595 yards and 11 touchdowns. A business entrepreneurship major at Utah State. Active in the community. Son of Bobby and the late Phenia Wagner. Born on June 27, 1990 in Los Angeles.
HOW ACQUIRED:
Drafted with the 15th pick in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Eleventh linebacker chosen in the second round in club history (Last: Lofa Tatupu, 2005). Second and highest player drafted out of Utah State in club history.
COLLEGE:
A three-time All-Western Athletic Conference first-team choice by the league’s coaches and media who started 46-of-48 games at Utah State (21 at strong-side linebacker and 25 at weak-side linebacker). Finished his career with 446 tackles (201 solo), 4.5 sacks for minus 35 yards, 29.5 tackles for losses of 80 yards and eight quarterback pressures. Caused two fumbles and recovered three others, while recording seven passes defensed and intercepting four balls for 51 yards in returns. His 446 tackles tied the school career-record that was first set by Del Lyles (1988-91), becoming only the fourth player in WAC history to record more than 400 tackles, breaking the league all-time record of 443 tackles by Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04). Senior: Named an All-American Dream Team choice and WAC Defensive Player of the Year by The NFL Draft Report. Registered a career-best 147 tackles (67 solo), ranking fifth on the school’s and seventh on the league’s seasonrecord chart. Finished eighth in the nation with an average of 11.31 tackles per game, pacing an Aggies unit that led the WAC in total defense (366.23 ypg) and placed second in rush defense (127.27 ypg). Also added a career-high four sacks for minus 32 yards and led the team for a second time with 11.5 tackles for losses totaling 41 yards. Accrued four quarterback pressures, while recovering one fumble and intercepting two passes for 19 total return yards. Junior: Led the team and WAC and finished tied for seventh in the nation with an average of 11.08 tackles per game, as he recorded 133 stops (61 solo), an assisted sack and ranked second on the team with eight tackles for losses of 15 yards. Also had a quarterback pressure, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed. Sophomore: Took over weak-side linebacker duties, as he led the team and WAC with an average of 9.5 tackles per game. Racked up 115 tackles (53 solo) to go with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass defensed and a pair of quarterback pressures. His 115 tackles rank second-most by a Utah State sophomore (Johndale Carty, 138, 1996) and he became the first sophomore to lead Utah State in tackles since 1994 (David Gill, 89). Named Academic All-WAC. Freshman: Played in 11 games, starting the final nine at left outside linebacker, where he finished sixth on the team with 51 stops (20 solo) and tallied two tackles for loss, a quarterback pressure and two passes defensed. PERSONAL: Dubbed the “Hardest Hitter” in college by The Sporting News, becoming the first player to ever lead the conference in tackles three consecutive seasons and is one of four to accomplish that feat at Utah State. One of 30 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) studentathletes selected as a candidate for the 2011 Lowe’s Award for excellence both on and off the field.
PERSONAL:
Attended Colony High School where he lettered as a tight end and linebacker, guiding the team in each of his final two seasons to consecutive 12-2 finishes, capturing the CIF division title. Named to the All-CIF Central Division squad as a senior and picked up All-State California Division II second-team honors, as he recorded 125 tackles (92 solo) and four sacks, while hauling in 37 receptions for 595 yards and 11 touchdowns. A business entrepreneurship major at Utah State. Active in the community. Son of Bobby and the late Phenia Wagner. Born on June 27, 1990 in Los Angeles.
