Notre Dame landed a huge football commitment on Thursday when four-star offensive tackle Aamil Wagner picked the Fighting Irish live on CBS Sports HQ. In an unexpected move, Wagner chose Notre Dame over Kentucky, where his older brother, Ahmad Wagner, is a graduate assistant and former receiver.
"Notre Dame made it easy for me to see life after football. I felt like Notre Dame gave me the best opportunity to be a great person after football," Wagner said of his commitment. "It was really close. Kentucky has my brother there ... I really connected to the players and coaches there. It was really difficult, but I felt like Notre Dame set me up best for my future."
Wagner is considered the No. 11 offensive tackle in the class by 247Sports. He is yet another addition to what is already an impressive class for coach Brian Kelly. The Irish already had a top-five class before Wagner's commitment with 16 blue-chip recruits.
The 6-foot-6 prospect is a multi-sport athlete at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, who also plays basketball and competes in track and field. He projects as a potential future Day 2 NFL draft selection, according to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu:
Lean, athletic prospect who can run, bend and move more like a tight end than offensive tackle. Has started to fill in but still has work to do in that department with getting stronger and bigger. Plays with good leverage and body lean. Keeps his feet well when drive blocking and athleticism allows him to mirror when pass blocking. Will get violent and finish his blocks, which the hope is that that will be enhanced with added strength. High upside guy. May not be an immediate impact player in college because of needed strength and conditioning time, but long term prospects are excellent as a college starter and for playing beyond college.
Notre Dame is ranked ninth in the latest College Football Playoff poll and faces Virginia in Week 11 as it hopes to stay in the playoff picture in the final month of the season.
