The Recruiting Guy

Wagner commits to the Hogs

Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson talks to players during practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at the Walker Pavilion in Fayetteville.
Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson talks to players during practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at the Walker Pavilion in Fayetteville.

Arkansas offensive tackle target Dalton Wagner has publicly committed to the Razorbacks after visiting Fayetteville on Thursday.

Wagner, 6-9, 312 pounds, of Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond, Ill., made the trip with his mother, father and other family members and told Coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Kurt Anderson of his decision before leaving.

He and his father, Brad, visited the Hogs in March.

"It just reaffirmed what I thought when I first visited, and it’s just a really, really special place," Wagner said. "I'm excited to see what my future will hold there and excited to get my butt going. That’s what I’m really looking forward to."

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He picked the Hogs over scholarship offers from Missouri, California, Virginia, Purdue, Louisville, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Indiana and others. His mother, Nancy, was very impressed with what she saw.

"She loved it; she absolutely loved it," Wagner said. " She loves every part of the entire program. They started us off in the equipment room, and they let my little brother try on a jersey and a helmet, too. He was all excited about that."

One of his mother's priorities was to see the Jerry and Gene Jones Academic Center.

"That was one of the bigger things Mom wanted to see, too,” Wagner said. “It showed this is a school that really, really cares about your academics and shows Coach Bielema attacks the academics. It’s him making sure you make good grades and making sure of that. He doesn’t have to be doing that. He doesn’t have to have weekly meetings with the academic advisers, but he does."

"He doesn’t just care about the four years you’re there, he cares about your whole life and cares about what you do beyond."

Spending time with Anderson, an Illinois native, also reaffirmed his decision.

"He once again explained his philosophy about his coaching," Wagner said. "He’s not going to be the guy that beats you down. His words were he’s going to give you the grace to fail so you can learn from it and you can be better. That’s one of the things that draws me."

Wagner also respects Anderson being family-oriented.

"He’s a down-home family man," Wagner said. "He really cares about us. He has his values there, and I’m looking forward to being coached by him and the rest of the staff."

He told strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert of his decision to be a Hog.

"They think I can put on a bunch of weight and bunch of muscle on, and they're really excited about what I can be," Wagner said.

Wagner becomes Arkansas' third offensive line commitment and No. 19 overall for the 2017 class. The Hogs are expected to sign four to five offensive linemen in the class.

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