William Wagner (long snapper)
.jpg) Wagner with the Michigan Wolverines in 2023 | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Long snapper |
| Personal information | |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Alpharetta (Alpharetta, Georgia) |
| College: | Michigan (2019–2024) |
| Undrafted: | 2025 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
William Wagner is an American professional football long snapper for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. Wagner was an All-Big Ten selection, winning three consecutive conference titles and a national championship in 2023.
Early life
[edit]Wagner was born to Lee and Michelle Wagner. His brother, Michael, played college football at Mercer. He attended Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta, Georgia.[1]
College career
[edit]Wagner committed to play for head coach Jim Harbaugh and enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2019, using his freshman season to redshirt. As a sophomore in 2020, he started all six games in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a junior in 2021, he started all 14 games.[1] As a senior in 2022, he started five games before suffering a season-ending injury against Iowa on October 1, 2022.[2]
As a fifth-year senior in 2023, he started all 15 games. He was part of a kicking battery that scored 119 points, the seventh-most in single-season program history, and helped Michigan win the national championship.[1] As a sixth-year senior in 2024, he started all 13 games. Following the season, he was named a Patrick Mannelly Award finalist and named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches.[3][4] He was also invited to the 2025 Senior Bowl.[5][6] He finished his collegiate career completing 282 snaps for kicks and 196 for punts in 53 games as the long snapper.[7][8]
Personal life
[edit]Wagner graduated from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in manufacturing mechanical engineering.[9] As an undergraduate student, he was a member of the Gordon Group and studied additive manufacturing.[10]
Professional career
[edit]On April 26, 2025, Wagner signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "William Wagner". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Daly, Michael (October 5, 2022). "Michigan reportedly loses second special teams contributor to season-ending injury". saturdaytradition.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Wagner Selected as Mannelly Award Finalist". MGoBlue.com. November 25, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Zvada Wins Kicker of the Year, Nine Players Named to All-Big Ten 1st and 2nd Teams". MGoBlue.com. December 3, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ McMann, Aaron (November 19, 2024). "First Michigan player accepts Senior Bowl invite". MLive.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 29, 2025). "Michigan's William Wagner making more good memories of Mobile at Senior Bowl". AL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Michigan long snapper looking to defy long odds to make NFL roster". The Detroit News. March 4, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Michigan Long Snapper William Wagner". bvmsports.com. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Woelkers, David (October 25, 2023). "Wagner Applies 'Tinkering' Mindset in Long Snapping and Engineering". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Gordon Research Group Members". University of Michigan. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Mcmann, Aaron (April 26, 2025). "Michigan UDFA tracker: Undrafted Edwards, Paige ink NFL deals". MLive.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.