Maple Grove’s 6’6, 255 lb. OT Michael Wagner saw his ranking rise from #37 to #14 overall.

If you’re one of the best offensive tackles in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you automatically should be one of the most popular recruits, and Maple Grove’s Michael Wagner fits the bill. The 6’6, 255 lber. already holds offers from San Diego State, Montana, Harvard, South Dakota State, Army-West Point, Air Force, Ohio, Northern Illinois, and NDSU, making for one of the largest and more diverse offer lists in MN. The big reason for his rankings bump is the fact that he played JV football last year, albeit some of the best JV competition in the state, but when doing underclassmen rankings I will also value varsity reps over JV ones. Even still, Wagner was ranked #37 overall, so we did see this coming once he got on varsity for the Crimson.

Having gained nearly 20 pounds since his sophomore season, Wagner is now a 6’6, 250 lb. junior RT who shows some length and a frame that can add significantly more weight, and he owns an intriguing second play of his junior film where he has to haul butt out to the opposite hash to take our the playside CB on a WR screen that spotlights some mobility and comfortability in space. Wagner is quick out of his stance, strong enough to finish opponents on routine down blocks, and he looks quick when pulling and trapping around the LOS and getting out into space. Wagner was the key cog in an offensive line unit that paved a lot of holes for Charles Langama Charles Langama 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Maple Grove | 2025 State MN and one of the top rushing attacks in Minnesota.

143rd prephoops.com Wagner has a great combination of power and athleticism. He can collapse the edge from the right tackle position, shortening the corner for his running backs and getting to the second level or getting out wide on a sweep. He is one of the rare tackles who can pull across the formation on a sweep when he starts on the back side – showcasing his speed. The junior is agile enough to pick up a secondary defender from his initial block. In addition, he can stay with smaller defenders in the open field. All that athletic ability doesn’t take away from his power – when asked to, he can bury defensive linemen one-on-one.

Wagner brings an impactful set of skills to his team as a right tackle. His double-team showcases create opportunities for the running game, and his ability to climb to the second level with agility and awareness further shows his effectiveness in opening lanes for ball carriers. Notably, he is explosive out of his stance, providing a quick and powerful initial burst crucial for pass protection and run-blocking situations. Wagner’s exceptional grip strength allows him to control and sustain blocks. With a powerful leg drive, ideal size, and excellent athleticism, Wagner stands out as a force on the line of scrimmage. His versatility is evident in his capacity to pull to the other side of the line and serve as a lead blocker.

Michael is an athlete that is just starting to scratch the surface on his potential. He already possesses the height and length needed to dominate the position at 6’6″. The Maple Grove OT is 240 lbs, and his frame has so much room to continue to put on the size and strength needed to play at a high level of college football. Along with the frame to build on, Michael shows other traits that have great building blocks to continue to develop. He also has shown the range to make blocks anywhere in the box. Wagner also possesses solid lower body flexibility and uses his hands/length to make initial contact. It will be very intriguing to see how he develops over the next two years. Keep an eye on the standout OT.

Based on his tape, Wagner is a sophomore who split time between JV and playing right tackle on a 6A state championship team. Wagner made that look easy last season. He is a lean, athletic tackle with two years to put on good weight and – if he can improve in a specific area – really dominate in the next couple of years. Wagner’s quickness helps him get to the second level and get outside when needing to hook a defensive end on the outside. His long reach allows him to make contact with defenders before they are able to get into his body. To continue to progress, he will need to focus on his pad level – it is tough for a guy his size to stay low, but if Wagner can get his pad level lowered, he will become a real problem for metro defensive linemen.