This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Boise, Idaho • On the football field, Bobby Wagner was one of the best defenders in the Western Athletic Conference this season, leading the Utah State defense and playing a huge role in the Aggies' seven regular-season wins and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl bid that came with it.
But that wasn't even close to his biggest challenge. Or his biggest victory.
You see, Bobby Wagner became a father a year ago. Quinncey is her name, a daughter full of life and a little girl as assertive as her dad. Being a college football player is a full-time job. Being a student on track to graduate makes things even more hectic. Being a parent to boot? Time, sleep and overall energy come at a premium.
But Wagner has tackled his adversity as well as he tackles opposing running backs. And as Utah State prepares to face Ohio on Saturday, USU's star linebacker is a better person and player for the experience.
"It's great being a father," Wagner said. "I have to find balance, and it definitely takes a lot of sacrifices. I feel like I'm doing a good job of it on and off the field. She stays with her mom. Her mother and her family have been great and very supportive."
Finding time for rest and relaxation may be the biggest challenge for Wagner. On a typical day, he goes to class, then practice, and then he spends time with Quinncey before hitting study hall. But he's gotten himself into a routine because he knows he has no other choice.
With Quinncey's birth, Wagner's priorities were forced to change. He went from being a full-time student athlete to having another person to be responsible for. He went from going out, having fun and doing the typical college thing to staying in on weekends.
"No question, he has matured as a person and as a player this season," Utah State coach Gary Andersen said. "His child has been the driving force in his life to do better. He has matured, and he has become more focused. He has a tendency when faced with a life-changing experience to turn it into a positive."
Of course, on the field, Wagner had arguably the best season of his career, garnering first team all-WAC honors, making 140 tackles and being the heart of an improving defense. He had four of his five career sacks this season. He came up with two of the three team interceptions this year, including a pick on the goal line to preserve the Idaho win in double-overtime.
Wagner also proved to be more versatile this season, playing inside and outside linebacker, defensive end and on the defensive line. He made plays in opposing backfields consistently for the first time in his career, and he proved to be a capable pass-defender.
"We asked him to start making plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage, and he did that. We asked him to play different positions, and he did that," Andersen said. "He did exactly what we wanted, and he's going to be a guy that we miss tremendously."
Wagner has gone through a lot as a collegian, from becoming a father to losing his mother a few years ago. He almost stopped playing football out of grief, but eventually came back. He's one of the few holdovers remaining from the Brent Guy era.
Another holdover for Wagner: his love of all things Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Even today, USU's big, bad linebacker can be seen toting his Ninja Turtle backpack around campus.
"It started when I was 2 years old," Wagner said. "I loved everything about it. From that point on, that was my show. I had Ninja Turtle birthday cakes, blankets, shoes, toys. I just kind of fell in love, and it grew from there."
Wagner's season has turned him into a bona fide NFL prospect. With his long arms, his athleticism and his instincts, tackling is easy. He's second in Utah State and WAC history in career tackles. He needs four against Ohio to pass Robert Rodriguez, who played at UTEP from 2001-2004 on the WAC career list. He needs eight to pass Del Lyles for USU supremacy.
His tackles have increased every year of his career. He had his first 20-tackle game this season, against Louisiana Tech.
"He's the heart of what we do defensively," Aggies running back Robert Turbin said. "He's so tough to block, and he knows where everyone should be. He always puts himself in position to make plays."
Twitter: @tonyaggieville —
Bobby Wagner
• Leads the WAC with 140 tackles — he needs four more to break the WAC career record and eight more to break the Utah State career record.
• Had a career-high four sacks and two interceptions this season, including a game-saving pick against Idaho.
• Wagner on NFL draft: "I'm excited to go through the whole process. I can't wait to get down to training. Hopefully, I get drafted; that would be a dream come true for me."