Aamil Wagner’s emergence as a key figure on Notre Dame’s offensive line in 2024 reflects his rapid growth and persistence. Once viewed as a backup option, Wagner started all 16 games at right tackle, marking his first full season in a leading role.
His performance didn’t go unnoticed—Athlon Sports named the Ohio native to its preseason second-team All-America list. Wagner isn’t just holding down a position; he’s raising the bar for the Irish front five, proving he’s far more than a temporary solution on the line.
Aamil Wagner Emerges as Notre Dame’s OL Leader in 2024
Entering the 2024 season with limited game experience, Aamil Wagner quickly established himself as a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s offensive line. After playing just 52 snaps across his first two seasons, Wagner earned the starting right tackle job and took on a vital role in an offensive line marked by youth and injuries.
Remarkably, Wagner stayed healthy throughout the season, playing 973 snaps and standing out as the only Notre Dame lineman to start all 16 games.
It was an Aamil Wagner masterclass
Highest graded offensive player
0 pressures allowed
Highest graded run blocker
Highest graded pass blocker pic.twitter.com/XsixpwLEnu— Greg Flammang (@greg2126) December 1, 2024
Despite his inexperience, Wagner proved to be one of the most reliable linemen on the Irish roster. Pro Football Focus credited him with allowing only two sacks all season—just one during the regular season—a mark bettered only by Joe Alt and Mike McGlinchey in their first starting seasons.
Wagner also limited quarterback hits to four and committed only two penalties, highlighting his disciplined play. Still, Wagner faced challenges with pressure, giving up 29 total pressures, including 11 in the postseason, showing room for growth.
Wagner made notable improvements in run blocking in the latter half of the season, an area he showed flashes of strength. Continued development in this aspect could elevate his game further this fall.
If he follows the trajectory of past Notre Dame tackles like Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hainsey, Joe Alt, and Mike McGlinchey, Wagner could be a serious contender for All-America recognition.
His overall grades from PFF—72.2 in pass blocking, 78.1 in run blocking, and 79.5 overall—reflect his consistency and impact. Chadwick noted,
“He finished his junior year as the third-most-valuable Power Four tackle according to our [wins above average] metric, trailing only [Utah’s Spencer] Fano and [Texas’ Kelvin] Banks.”
Wagner’s 78.1 run-blocking grade ranked 17th among Power Four tackles, underscoring his effectiveness. Head coach Marcus Freeman praised Wagner’s first-year starting effort, saying, “Aamil’s done a great job… He works consistently. He’s a great team player.”
Now stepping into a veteran role, Wagner has become a resource for younger linemen, reflecting on the shift from being the mentee to the mentor.
“The amount of young guys that come to me for advice… that’s probably the biggest, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect to be doing all this,’” Wagner told The Athletic.
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Wagner’s journey included a redshirt freshman year in 2022 and limited action in 2023, during which he transformed physically, adding 30 pounds to reach 290 pounds by 2024. His breakout season has been defined by durability, steady improvement, and leadership, setting a strong foundation for Notre Dame’s offense moving forward.
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