Back in January, Brian Wagner announced that he would be transferring from Akron to Arizona, stating that he is “excited to help” first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez‘s football program.
Five months later, that excitement has apparently waned. Significantly.
In an abrupt and completely unexpected move, the linebacker confirmed to the Tucson Citizen that not only is he leaving the Wildcats team, but he’s giving up football altogether.
“I don’t have love for the game anymore,” Wagner told the paper. “I told Coach that, and that was it. It was something I was thinking about for a long time. That’s kind of where I’m at right now.”
Rodriguez confirmed in a text message that Wagner “just decided not to play football anymore.”
At least on paper, the loss would be a significant blow to the coach’s defense. Wagner finished last season as the nation’s third-leading tackler, and would’ve been the leading returning tackler this season.
He graduated from Akron and would’ve been eligible to play immediately in 2012. Suffice to say, he was projected as a starter