AKRON – University of Akron linebacker Brian Wagner was recently named first team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News. Wagner was one of just 26 to make the prestigious squad.
The Springfield ( Ohio ) Catholic Central HS product ranks sixth in the NCAA in tackles (11.0 per contest) – second among NCAA freshmen, and became the first freshman to lead the Mid-American Conference in tackles (132). Wagner was additionally the only freshman in the NCAA to record three games with 15-plus tackles in 2009.
Wagner’s 132 tackles is 61 more than the next closest on the team (captain Mike Thomas with 71). He also is second on the team with 7.0 TFL while adding two picks, two forced fumbles (team leader), two fumbles recovered (team leader) and three pass breakups (fourth-best on the team).
Wagner's tackles total of 132 is the most by a Zip since Nate Boyd's 140 in 1996 and he is just the seventh Zip since 1994 to have 100-plus tackles in a season. He led the Zips in tackles in nine of 12 games in 2009 and had double-digit tackles eight times, getting nine on three other occasions.
He was named Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 14). In helping Akron open InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field with a shutout victory over Morgan State , Wagner led the Zips with nine tackles - including a sack, while forcing two fumbles and returning an interception 32 yards for a touchdown.
Wagner was previously named second team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele’s Magazine and third team by CollegeFootballNews.com.
SPORTING NEWS’ FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS
Freshman of the Year: Dion Lewis, Pitt
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSE
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
RB Dion Lewis, Pitt
RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
WR Eric Page, Toledo
WR Conner Vernon , Duke
TE Orson Charles , Georgia
OL Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas
OL Barrett Jones, Alabama
OL Peter Konz, Wisconsin
OL David DeCastro, Stanford
OL Aaron Douglas, Tennessee
K Matt Hogan, Houston
KR Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN DEFENSE
DE Aldon Smith , Missouri
DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
DT Larry Black, Indiana
DE Nick Perry, USC
LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin
LB Brian Wagner, Akron
CB Corey Broomfield , Mississippi State
CB Josh Robinson, UCF
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