Ian Wagner Q&A - No. 25 Punter/ No. 26 Kicker in the Country

<img class="size-medium wp-image-41660 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/IMG_2806-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Ian Wagner 6’2 200lbs Kicker, Punter, WR Ian Wagner is probably one of the most versatile kickers in the state of Illinois simply because of everything he can do on the football field. He can kick field goals and kickoffs, and he also has the ability to punt the football, and run routes! On top of that, Wagner demonstrates his athletism by being a two-sport athlete who plays both football and basketball.   How did Ian get into kicking? Ian's older brother actually played with current NFL Tennesse Titans kicker Tucker McCann at O'Fallon Township High School in which this actually inspired Ian to kick. Ian actually began training with Tucker McCann and as a result, they became great friends and Ian even considers McCann his mentor. Apart from gaining great tips and techniques from McCann, Ian has also had the pleasure to learn from Belleville West Alumni Austin Seibert who now plays in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns. It's easy to say that Ian has already been mentored by great kickers and even continues to learn from and grow with other phenomenal kickers in the area. Some of those names include Austin Sibert's younger brother Logan Siebert who also currently attends Belleville West in Belleville, Illinois, Collyn Hopkins from Bradley Bourbonnais, Bradley, Illinois, and Chase Leaves from Granite City High School located in Granite City, Illinois. Ian: "We all have love & respect for each other and want to compete and always look forward to playing against each other." What strives you to become a better player? Ian comes from an adopted family and he feels he owes his parents a lot because they "saved my life!" Ian aspires to become a better person and player each day on and off the field. He wants to help out his family as much as he can and feels there's no better way to do that than by getting a free education & playing the sport he loves the most. Wagner definitely has an amazing and touching story. How do you handle pressure when games are on the line and you have to activate the clutch gene when it comes to kicking? Ian is quick to say that he doesn't think about the pressure or failure too often. However, what he does do is envision the future in his mind. He puts a video in his head of the excitement from teammates, coaches, fans, and family AFTER he has succeeded. " Zero negative thoughts go through the mind, positive vibes ONLY!" Weakness from last year? Ian has been training to become a better WR for his high school football team. Last year, he started all 9 games at WR as well as being the starter kicker and punter for OTHS. He had 31 receptions for 414 yards with 2 touchdowns. Ian also has trained with Kohls Kicking Camp to perfect his kicking craft. He trains with his father 3 times a week on kicking and on the days he is not kicking, he is working out in the weight room and is completing WR workouts! Ian, what makes you different from other kickers? "Being black and saying I am a kicker, I want to prove that color doesn't matter if you grind and give maximum effort you can be great. I am more athletic than the usual punter and kicker, most kickers can't say they can play basketball and also dunk." At the next level, colleges can expect a powerful leg & hard worker when it comes to Ian Wagner. He feels with help from college coaches, he can be one of the best specialists in the country. He is mentally and physically prepared for any obstacle that may come his way. Ian left me off with this note: "My film doesn't do justice for me, I am a team player and you have to see me in person. You can't truly judge power from a camera. Watch out for the Panthers, we are underdogs and I love to be classified as an underdog."