Northwestern University Athletics
Drew Wagner Steps Into Elevated Slot Role
10/8/2025 6:51:00 AM | Football
More than an hour after Northwestern wrapped up a fall camp practice on a sweltering mid-August morning, Drew Wagner remained on the turf, putting in extra repetitions with his sophomore season just weeks away.
On a stretch beyond Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Wagner fine-tuned his route running technique and special teams skill set. Such additional work had become second nature for a player who committed to the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on in February 2024.
"Being able to help the team in any way possible was the first thing I learned," Wagner said. "Coming in, I was never imagining playing front line on kickoff or doing all sorts of things on special teams. I learned to be a player that can plug in anywhere. Obviously, everybody wants to be a receiver or even go catch punts, but the other stuff is just as important."
The 5-10, 185-pound wide receiver would soon solidify his spot at starting punt returner. But as the 2025 season began, the Northwestern coaching staff took quick note of Wagner's playmaking prowess and schemed ways to enhance the Delafield, Wis., native's offensive role.
"Any offense, wide receivers coach, offensive coordinator, you're going to find your best players and find ways to get them the ball, use their skill sets," wide receivers coach Armon Binns said. "Drew's got a unique ability with the ball in his hands to be really explosive. He can separate. He can uncover. It's just about finding ways to mesh our best two, three pieces."
Seeing the lion's share of slot receiver snaps, Wagner produced a career game against ULM on Saturday. The sophomore snagged six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown — a performance that left little surprise in the eyes of Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun.
Braun, who placed Wagner on scholarship this past winter, said he consistently sees high-level play out of the sophomore — and his classmate Hayden Eligon II, who tallied 80 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Warhawks — in practice. For Braun, it was only a matter of time before their exploits behind closed doors to shine on gameday.
"Drew and Hayden, since Day One of being on campus, have shown a ton of promise," Braun said. "Both have very different skill sets, but have really started to come into their own."
Last season, Wagner saw action in six games, mostly contributing on special teams before seeing late-season offensive snaps. In one of the highlight moments of Northwestern's 2024 campaign, Wagner found a seam on his first-career punt return and broke free for a 72-yard touchdown at Iowa.
The wideout embraced the opportunity to learn tools of the trade from position group veterans, such as A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz. Wagner, Kirtz and Henning have remained in frequent contact, with Henning often sending clips and breaking down technique, especially in the return game.
"They're perfect examples of dudes who work extremely hard, and you saw what they did on the field," Wagner said of Henning and Kirtz. "Coming in [last year], I was a little nervous, but they welcomed me in, helped me with anything I needed. Just watching them live, the way they move was just huge for me."
With junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde transferring into the program from South Dakota State, Wagner has found another model to emulate. For Binns, Wilde's humility has stood out as he's made the transition from the FCS to the FBS appear rather seamless and simultaneously stepped into a leadership role.
Binns said constant competition in the wide receiver room for limited spots and enhanced chemistry with graduate student quarterback Preston Stone have precipitated significant progress in the position group as a whole in recent weeks.
"If you have a lot of really talented dudes in your room who are all driven and competitive, it's only going to make everyone better," Binns said. "But the cool part about it is there's no ego. There's no selfishness. Everybody's just as happy for the next guy when they're making plays."
As the Wildcats gear up for their first road test in more than a month this Saturday at Penn State, Binns said the team's wideouts are preparing for a "nameless, faceless opponent." He added that it wouldn't matter if Northwestern was playing the Nittany Lions, or the Oakland Raiders — the group will need to be at its best.
For Wagner, the matchup will prove a testament to the team's belief and preparation.
"I'm just excited to go out there and play," Wagner said. "I'm going to treat it like any other game. It's going to be a super cool experience to be able to play there, but we just gotta go out there and play confident in our abilities."
On a stretch beyond Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Wagner fine-tuned his route running technique and special teams skill set. Such additional work had become second nature for a player who committed to the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on in February 2024.
"Being able to help the team in any way possible was the first thing I learned," Wagner said. "Coming in, I was never imagining playing front line on kickoff or doing all sorts of things on special teams. I learned to be a player that can plug in anywhere. Obviously, everybody wants to be a receiver or even go catch punts, but the other stuff is just as important."
The 5-10, 185-pound wide receiver would soon solidify his spot at starting punt returner. But as the 2025 season began, the Northwestern coaching staff took quick note of Wagner's playmaking prowess and schemed ways to enhance the Delafield, Wis., native's offensive role.
"Any offense, wide receivers coach, offensive coordinator, you're going to find your best players and find ways to get them the ball, use their skill sets," wide receivers coach Armon Binns said. "Drew's got a unique ability with the ball in his hands to be really explosive. He can separate. He can uncover. It's just about finding ways to mesh our best two, three pieces."
Seeing the lion's share of slot receiver snaps, Wagner produced a career game against ULM on Saturday. The sophomore snagged six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown — a performance that left little surprise in the eyes of Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun.
.@drew23wagner finds the end zone ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 4, 2025
??: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Kz5GZAiUNp
Braun, who placed Wagner on scholarship this past winter, said he consistently sees high-level play out of the sophomore — and his classmate Hayden Eligon II, who tallied 80 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Warhawks — in practice. For Braun, it was only a matter of time before their exploits behind closed doors to shine on gameday.
"Drew and Hayden, since Day One of being on campus, have shown a ton of promise," Braun said. "Both have very different skill sets, but have really started to come into their own."
Last season, Wagner saw action in six games, mostly contributing on special teams before seeing late-season offensive snaps. In one of the highlight moments of Northwestern's 2024 campaign, Wagner found a seam on his first-career punt return and broke free for a 72-yard touchdown at Iowa.
That's a 72 yard punt return and touchdown for @NUFBFamily's Drew Wagner ??#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork ?? pic.twitter.com/A90Hg5e06C
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
The wideout embraced the opportunity to learn tools of the trade from position group veterans, such as A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz. Wagner, Kirtz and Henning have remained in frequent contact, with Henning often sending clips and breaking down technique, especially in the return game.
"They're perfect examples of dudes who work extremely hard, and you saw what they did on the field," Wagner said of Henning and Kirtz. "Coming in [last year], I was a little nervous, but they welcomed me in, helped me with anything I needed. Just watching them live, the way they move was just huge for me."
"He got a wire on him" ?????
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) March 7, 2025
Inside spring ball with Drew Wagner, mic'd up. pic.twitter.com/aDrbFTbobx
With junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde transferring into the program from South Dakota State, Wagner has found another model to emulate. For Binns, Wilde's humility has stood out as he's made the transition from the FCS to the FBS appear rather seamless and simultaneously stepped into a leadership role.
Binns said constant competition in the wide receiver room for limited spots and enhanced chemistry with graduate student quarterback Preston Stone have precipitated significant progress in the position group as a whole in recent weeks.
"If you have a lot of really talented dudes in your room who are all driven and competitive, it's only going to make everyone better," Binns said. "But the cool part about it is there's no ego. There's no selfishness. Everybody's just as happy for the next guy when they're making plays."
As the Wildcats gear up for their first road test in more than a month this Saturday at Penn State, Binns said the team's wideouts are preparing for a "nameless, faceless opponent." He added that it wouldn't matter if Northwestern was playing the Nittany Lions, or the Oakland Raiders — the group will need to be at its best.
For Wagner, the matchup will prove a testament to the team's belief and preparation.
"I'm just excited to go out there and play," Wagner said. "I'm going to treat it like any other game. It's going to be a super cool experience to be able to play there, but we just gotta go out there and play confident in our abilities."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFootball - Penn State Game Week Press Conference (10/6/25)
Monday, October 06
Football - ULM Postgame Press Conference (10/04/25)
Sunday, October 05
Football - Northwestern Secures Comprehensive Win Over ULM, 42-7 (10/4/25)
Sunday, October 05
Football - ULM Game Week Press Conference (9/29/25)
Monday, September 29
