High school football: Richmond-Burton's Wagner joins in Arkansas' bowl preparations

Dalton Wagner was busier over the holiday break than most of the other students at Richmond-Burton.

Wagner, a senior football player who finished his graduation requirements, was allowed to practice with Arkansas’ football team during its preparation for the Belk Bowl, played Dec. 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wagner, a 6-foot-9, 315-pound offensive tackle, joined the Razorbacks for six days before they departed for the game. Under NCAA rules, those players leaving high school early can work out with bowl-bound teams, but they cannot travel with their teams to the games.

On Dec. 24, when Arkansas left for Charlotte, Wagner flew home for Christmas. Arkansas lost to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl, 35-24, after taking a 24-0 lead. Other than that setback, Wagner was thrilled.

“It was amazing,” Wagner said. “Unfortunately, I was unable to go to the bowl game. The first two days we couldn’t wear pads, but we wore helmets and did some stuff with the (tackling) dummies. At the end of the week we would pad up, which was awesome. That was an experience. I was able to see where I fit and everything.”

Wagner may be the most recruited player R-B ever has had. Rockets coach Pat Elder said former quarterback Adam Pittser got a lot of attention before his senior season when he competed in ESPN’s Elite 11 quarterback workouts, but Wagner’s attention came much sooner.

“It’s pretty beneficial for him to get his feet wet, get down there and see the older guys, how they operate, what their expectation is, and what things need to be done,” Elder said. “My initial reaction from him is that he liked it, thought it was good, and he’s eager to start classes and get into spring ball.”

Wagner was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection each of the past two seasons. He received a great deal of college interest as a junior and narrowed his choices to Arkansas and Indiana.

During last year’s spring semester, Wagner started considering finishing his requirements early so he could enroll in college in January this year. It was something Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson, as well as other coaches, suggested during recruitment.

“I checked with our guidance counselor to see if I could do it,” Wagner said. “I took a couple classes online and the rest of my schedule kind of fell into place. I was good to go after that.”

Elder commends Wagner for his efforts. Wagner will return in May to attend commencement with his senior class.

“I was glad he could work it out where he could do that,” Elder said. “He really did a great job of balancing both. He was unbelievably loyal to R-B, he did everything he could for his football team to help it be successful, and he was able to get things done to graduate early and move on to Arkansas. It will show in how well he’ll handle things as he goes through his college experience, too.”

Wagner moved his things into his dorm room, which he will share with three other Razorbacks’ recruits who are enrolling early. He already is acquainted with new roommates Kirby Adcock, Shane Clenin and Daulton Hyatt.

“I got to know them, it was really cool,” Wagner said. “I feel like I really do belong there. I have a ton of work to do, a lot of stuff to do to get to that spot. If I put in enough work, my time and effort, learning the offense with coach Anderson, I think I can do pretty well there.”

Wagner has been studying his playbook and working out since he returned home from Fayetteville. The new players were evaluated by strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert. Wagner is continuing his own workouts and conditioning until he gets to Arkansas around Jan. 15.

Wagner was a force on both lines for the 6-4 Rockets, who made the Class 4A playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.

“I feel great (physically) right now,” he said. “I’m ready to get stuff rolling.”