Utah State’s Bobby Wagner Named North’s Most Outstanding Player Saturday In Senior Bowl

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State football player Bobby Wagner was named the North’s Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Senior Bowl on Saturday, after he helped the North to a 23-13 win over the South at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.A crowd of 40,646 in attendance and a national television audience on the NFL Network saw Wagner snare an interception and lead the North with seven tackles, tying for game-high honors with Antonio Allen of the South team. One of Wagner’s seven tackles was for a loss and he also had a pass break-up at the goal line in a similar play that he snared an interception in double overtime to seal USU’s win at Idaho this season. Wagner and the North squad were coached by Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Leslie Frazier.”It feels great. I’m just happy to represent small schools and prove that no matter where you play you can shine,” Wagner said. “I was very proud to represent Utah State with the U-State logo on my helmet and help create some buzz about Utah State. No matter what I do or where I go, I will always be an Aggie,”Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS), led the Western Athletic Conference and rankedeighth in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in tackles with 11.3 per game, ranking tied for third in the FBS in total tackles with 147 on the season. Wagner earned first-team all-WAC accolades for the third-straight season and was a strong candidate for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. In the Aggies’ 13 games this season, Wagner posted nine double-digit tackle outings, highlighted by a career-high 20 stops against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 22, while adding 18 stops against Colorado State on Sept. 24.The Senior Bowl is the nation’s most unique football game and football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country’s best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams. After a seven-year drought for a Utah State player to be selected to the Senior Bowl, this was the second-straight season for an Aggie to be invited to the prestigious game, as cornerback Curtis Marsh was selected for the 2011 game, but could not play due to an injury. Prior to Marsh, the last time that a USU player was selected was tight end Chris Cooley in 2004. Overall, Wagner is the 16th USU player selected to the Senior Bowl since 1962.Wagner helped Utah State post a historic season with a 7-6 record, its first seven-win season since 1993, capping its season with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Ohio in a 24-23 thriller. Five of USU’s losses were by one score or less, and 10 of the Aggies’ games were decided by one score this season which are the most in the nation.Utah State football season ticket renewals and new sales for the 2012 season are available at 2011’s prices until May 1. Renewals are available online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the “buy/renew tickets” under the “tickets” drop down menu. Fans interested in new sales should contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on the USU football blog at usufootball.wordpress.com. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.-USU-

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!