"I've been watching the Badgers play on this field ever since I was a kid,'' said Wagner. "My parents went to games here and, growing up in the state, it's probable more special for me than others. It's a big honor play- ing here every day.''
Essentially, though, Wagner outgrew basketball and tight end. But he still had something to prove — to himself and the football recruiters — only North- ern Illinois and South Dakota offered football ten- ders.
That prompted a little soul-searching from Wag-
ner, who said, "I learned how fast things can be taken away. I want to play the sport as long as I can and have it under my control when it ends. "I knew if Wisconsin ever gave me anything, I would go there.'' The Badgers offered him an opportunity to play the game. That was all; that was enough. "I wanted to make the best out of being a walk-
on here,'' Wagner said. "I wanted to prove to them (the coaches) that I did deserve a scholarship, and it worked out in two years.'' A week before the 2010 opener, UW coach Bret Bielema, a former walk-on at Iowa, put three play- ers on tender: Wagner, a sophomore; Korslin, a ju- nior; and long snapper Kyle Wojta, a junior. That was an emotional turning point in his foot-
ball career and Wagner still looks back on it with pride. "It was a great honor for the coaches to trust me,'' Wagner said. "I will never take it for granted.'' Less than a month later, Wagner started his
first game for the Badgers, replacing the injured Josh Oglesby at right tackle against Arizona State. Oglesby briefly returned only to be re-injured. That swung open the door for Wagner, who
started the final nine games of the 2010 season. The following spring, he was moved to left tackle to replace Gabe Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner.
30 » VARSITY AUGUST 23, 2012
