From now until the 2024 NFL Draft takes place, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Michigan long snapper William Wagner.
#49 William Wagner/LS Michigan – 6013, 239 pounds (Graduate Student)
Senior Bowl/Combine
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| William Wagner | 6013/239 | 9 1/8 | 30 1/2 | 74 3/8 |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.98 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| N/A | N/A | 19 |
*All Pro Day Measurements
The Good
– Great size for the position
– Excellent velocity that exceeds NFL standards (averaged .67 seconds on 20 charted punts, consistently in the .66-.67 range and rarely above .70)
– Accurate overall, especially on punts
– Does great job spinning ball on field goals so laces face out and holder doesn’t need to spin ball around
– Good 40 time and athletic enough to get downfield
– Responsible keeping his lane on punt coverage, doesn’t get out-leveraged
– Excellent starting experience and highly decorated career
– Received Senior Bowl and Combine invites
– Smart off-field and uses engineering degree to help improve his game
The Bad
– Accuracy wasn’t perfect and had more issues on field goals than on punts
– Field goals have tendency to come in high and tight (especially on extra points)
– Snaps have a little wobble to them
– Only one career tackle despite extensive starting career
– Suffered season-ending torn ACL in 2022
– Lacks closing speed to finish and left tackles on the field
– Shield punt system and didn’t have to block thanks to college rules and wide splits
Bio
– Played in 53 games for Wolverines
– 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award Finalist (NCAA’s top long snapper) but did not win
– Career: Snapped for 282 kicks and 196 punts (per 247 Sports)
– Only tackle came in 2024 against Indiana
– Graduated with degree mechanical engineering at Michigan and went for Master’s in manufacturing mechanical engineering
– Says he uses his engineering degree to help his game, takes into consideration impact wet grass can have on friction of the football
– Enjoys 3D printing and once printed an octopus with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s face on it
– Two older brothers were successful high school football players while one played football at Mercer
– From Alpharetta, Ga. (went to same high school as Josh Dobbs)
– Had scholarship offers from Brown and Mercer but chose to attend Michigan as preferred walk-on because of great engineering program
– Played o-line and d-line in high school in addition to special teams
Tape Breakdown
Heck yes, we’re writing long snapper reports. Wagner is considered one of the best in this year’s class, confirmed by his Senior Bowl and Combine invites. Wagner brings size and pedigree with a ton of starting experience for a power program.
But Wagner isn’t getting by on his school alone. His best quality is his velocity. The NFL standard for long snapper speed on punts, from snap to catch, is 0.70 seconds. Per my charting, Wagner came in comfortably under that at an average of .674 seconds. Almost all of his punts came in at or under that .7-second benchmark.
On punts especially, Wagner is extremely accurate. In the tape I watched, I only noted one low snap. Examples of some of his snapping.
On field goals, Wagner does a great job of spinning the ball so the holder doesn’t need to adjust the laces (which if you don’t know, laces out is the goal).
Wagner ran a solid 40 and is athletic enough to get downfield. He wasn’t a high-impact player but disciplined in his lane. In the first clip, he funnels the returner up the middle. In the second was his lone recorded tackle, wrapping up the Indiana returner out of bounds.
Negatively, Wagner had just one special teams tackle. Michigan didn’t punt a lot and there weren’t always a lot of returns but you’d like more production from someone who had the lengthy career Wagner enjoyed.
His field goal snaps, especially extra points, weren’t as consistent as his punts. Some high and/or inside, forcing the holder to adjust.
Like most college snappers, Wagner centered a shield punt that created wide splits and didn’t ask him to block much. He’ll have to handle that much more at the NFL level as rush teams attack his edges or try to run him over. He also couldn’t close on a couple punts and missed a chance to pick up one or two more tackles this season.
Conclusion
Overall, Wagner checks the boxes with the right size, athleticism, velocity, and overall accuracy as a snapper. His accuracy isn’t elite and not as consistent as the long snapper I watched last year, NC State’s Joe Shimko. But if Wagner can tighten up a little bit, he has the makings of a starter who should challenge for a job in camp.
My NFL comp is Washington Commanders snapper Tyler Ott, a Harvard grad and one-time Pro Bowler.
Projection: Late Day 3-Undrafted
Depot Draft Grade: 5.7 – Priority Free Agent (Undrafted)
Games Watched: Texas, USC, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Northwestern (all 2024)
