Look for Wagner next year
FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman announced on Monday the likely return of the first known 2022 “super senior” for the Razorbacks, offensive tackle Dalton Wagner.
Pittman revealed the news when asked if there would be any surprises regarding the players who are scheduled to participate in Friday’s senior day activities prior to kickoff of the No. 21 Razorbacks’ home game against Missouri at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“Well, I don’t think so,” Pittman started to answer, before adding, “Dalton Wagner is not going to be out there, so that would maybe be a sign.”
Every football player who was on a roster last fall during the covid-19 pandemic has been granted an extra year of eligibility if the player and their school agree to it. While covid-19 “super seniors” were given scholarships that didn’t count against the team’s cap of 85 scholarship players this season, that is not the case starting in 2022.
Pittman said he would have to be more selective in welcoming back bonusyear seniors, but he had already revealed he had talked to Wagner, linebacker Bumper Pool and defensive tackle John Ridgeway about potentially returning.
Wagner appeared on the “Sam Pittman Live” radio show last week and somewhat foreshadowed his imminent return.
“Fayetteville has become a new home for me and it’s a special place here,” said Wagner, who grew up in Spring Grove, Ill.
Pittman has obviously grown close to Wagner.
“Dalton’s a really cool guy,” he said Monday. “You know he told me he was going to come back and I asked him a week or two ago — you know he went through finger surgery and all those different things — and he just said, ‘Coach I told you I was going to come back and that’s what I’m going to do.’”