Kentucky wide receiver Ahmad Wagner was called a “matchup nightmare” on SEC This Morning with Peter Burns and Chris Doering Tuesday morning.
At 6-foot-5, 233-pounds, Wagner has been targeted 17 times this season. He has caught nine of those targets but you have to factor in seven pass interference calls as well. So, 16 of the 17 times the ball has been thrown his direction has ended in a positive play.
“He’s a matchup nightmare for cornerbacks,” Doering said on the show. We’re not talking about a guy that moved into playing tight end, we’re talking about a guy that’s playing outside against the smaller corners. They’re having to pass-interfere him to catch up.”
Even co-host Peter Burns chimed in on Wagner.
“I love Ahmad Wagner,” Burns said. “I think it’s incredible that he’s 6-foot-5, but back at Iowa, he was listed at 6-foot-7. Wagner, though, has been great and an unbelievable story here for the Wildcats.”
Doering even made a comparison to former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
“It’s like when you used to split Gronkowski out wide back in the day,” said Doering. “It’s difficult to defend because of not only his size and length, but he’s a guy that can jump and grab a rebound off the rim and a big body that can box guys out. That’s a tough red zone weapon.”
Doering also gave some of Kentucky’s other weapons in the passing game some attention.
“He’s one of several people who have stepped up at the wide receiver position for the Wildcats, it’s making them difficult to defend. Josh Ali had another big catch on Saturday, Bryce Oliver is another guy that has stepped up, so they have got some other weapons that are complementing Bowden.”
Watch the segment below and tune in Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET. I will be joining Peter and Chris on SEC This Morning tomorrow to discuss Kentucky.
