Ahmad Wagner, UK’s pass-interference magnet, headed to Chicago Bears
University of Kentucky wide receiver Ahmad Wagner didn’t catch many passes in his short time with the Wildcats, but that didn’t stop the NFL from calling.
Wagner will sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bears, Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow told the Herald-Leader and Wagner later confirmed on Twitter.
Football was not Wagner’s first option in college. The 6-foot-5, 234-pound prospect first attended Iowa on a basketball scholarship, and spent three seasons with the Hawkeyes before transferring to UK ahead of the 2018 season. He played in 11 games his first year as a Wildcat but was targeted only four times; he drew a pass-interference penalty against opposing defenses on three of those targets, including a game-changing one at Missouri that set up an un-timed down on which Terry Wilson threw a game-winning touchdown to C.J. Conrad.
Wagner’s touches, as well as those by every UK receiver, were hampered in 2019 once the staff moved Lynn Bowden to quarterback mid-season and become more run-heavy. He finished his senior campaign with 254 yards and two touchdowns — including a circus-act grab against Florida — on 15 catches, averaging 16.9 yards per catch. He also drew nine additional pass-interference flags against defenders.
Wagner was one of several Kentucky seniors who weren’t invited to the NFL’s annual draft combine and were hoping to impress NFL scouts during the school’s on-campus pro day. That event was among the many canceled due to efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Two former Kentucky players were chosen in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders picked wide receiver Lynn Bowden, who they plan to use as a running back, in the third round. The Detroit Lions selected offensive lineman Logan Stenberg in the fourth round.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 7:58 PM.
