Aamil Wagner Continues To Work Toward Weight Goal
Weight has been a hot topic for Notre Dame offensive lineman Aamil Wagner since his arrival on campus two years ago. The Ohio native has packed on roughly 20 pounds since he came to campus tipping the scales at a modest 265 pounds on his 6-6 frame, but he is still working to add more.
Wagner’s official spring weight is 281 pounds, but he is working toward more bulk by the time fall training camp rolls around.
"I would love to be 300 pounds plus by fall and the season,” Wagner said this week after Notre Dame’s second spring practice. "I don’t want to put a cap on what I can be. So, just being able to add weight, add mass as I go along, if it’s 305, if it’s 315 that’ll be fantastic, but 300 pounds plus is the goal.”
Wagner is the lightest of any of Notre Dame’s current offensive linemen. He is currently the No. 2 right tackle behind 6-8, 321-pound Tosh Baker. Left tackle Charles Jagusah also checks-in at 6-7 and 329 pounds.
"Everyone's different,” Fighting Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said when asked about Wagner’s size. "Everyone has a different playing weight where they're at their best. I think we both like him to be a little bit more solid, but he’s getting there. He’s made the most strides since he's got here, he’s made dramatic strides, but he's close and he's still kind of closing the gap on it.
"I like the way he plays,” Rudolph continued. "He’s shown he doesn't need to be a 350-pound guy to play really, really well. He's got great power, great strength, great length. I don't think he would be a guy that ever plays it that way — it might be 28 when he is that way.
He may not need to be 350, or even 320 pounds to be effective, but weight gain for Wagner is still a priority. He has had a healthy dose of caloric intake as he tries to up his bulk to better compete on the line.
'I think at my peak, I was eating nearly like 8,000 calories (a day),” Wagner recalled. "I think we tracked it one time and it was at like 4,500 for a breakfast one time and it was like five eggs, burrito, potatoes, 1,500 calories in muffins, 2,000 a shake. Really, just being able to put those calories in and put the work in.”
Wagner has a favorite taco spot he likes to hit when he’s back home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, but nothing gets the job done like mom’s spaghetti when he has the chance.
"My mom makes homemade spaghetti,” Wagner explained. "I think my mom is the best cook in the world. I might be a little biased but the homemade spaghetti she makes is just fantastic. I’ll eat it any time of the day, any day of the week. Then the special meal that mom makes is fettuccini alfredo as well. So, those two meals, I’ll go back two days later and if there’s any leftovers I’m taking it.”
Eating isn’t the only key to Wagner’s weight journey though. The lean lineman has taken to new director of football performance coach Loren Landow’s offseason regimen.
"I’ve definitely added size,” Wagner said. "I think what’s really been happening is I’ve been adding a lot of muscle. Still working on adding a little bit of the fat going on. But I’m definitely bigger than I was last year.
"I think the way I added weight might be different than other people,” Wagner continued. "A lot of it is just, quite a lot of it’s muscle. So, being able to add weight without losing my athletic ability was the biggest thing for me. I came in pretty fast, came in pretty agile. So, that was my strengths and I wanted to keep those strengths. So, being able to add weight in the way I did strategically was huge for me.”
Irish defensive end Josh Burnham has noticed a change in Wagner. The two were part of the same 2022 recruiting class and have faced off against each other in practice. Burnham has taken note of his teammates increased physique.
"It must just be he’s filling out in the weight room,” Burnham said of Wagner. "He’s been looking really good. I’m excited to see what he’s capable of doing this year. I think he has a huge year ahead of him.
"He’s very athletic,” Burnham continued. "He’s put on quite a bit of weight. He looks better with it now.”
Wagner will need to continue growing his body and his game from now until fall camp. If he can do both he'll have a shot to eventually force his way into the Irish lineup.
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