Wagner Applies 'Tinkering' Mindset in Long Snapping and Engineering
10/25/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football, Features
By David Woelkers
On the surface, the job of a long snapper is pretty straightforward: hiking a ball between one's legs a longer-than-usual distance, for just a handful of snaps per game.
Graduate student William Wagner sees it differently. As he explains the intricacies of the position he's devoted his football career to, his engineering mind is apparent. It becomes clear to the listener that no play's execution is more of a true science in the sport than that of an efficient special teams snap.
"I use my mechanical engineering degree pretty much every day in long snapping," Wagner said. "In engineering, I have to know how matter is going to react if I put force in one place compared to another, and it's the same in long snapping -- how is the ball going to fly if I snap it one way versus another?"
It is the ultimate irony of the long snapper position that when Wagner does things right, the fans watching will not be sure he has done anything at all. But the thrill for Wagner does not come from the roar of the crowd after a tremendous catch or a big tackle, it comes from feeling the ball leave his grip and knowing it is going exactly where it is supposed to.
Wagner's interest in the science of his position is evident. He is constantly fiddling with the process to find that elusive perfect snap; one that spins just right and flies with just the exact amount of force needed to facilitate the smoothest of kicks and punts. Even the most seemingly minute conditions -- the firmness of a ball, a gentle breeze -- can result in the need for wildly different calculations.
"Being an engineer, it's tinkering non-stop," Wagner said. "I am always thinking of how I can adjust something to make it better. If the grass is wet for example, the friction coefficient of the ball is different than if the grass is dry. If my back is sloped, the attack angle is thrown off from where it should be when my back is level. I'm making dozens of calculations every time I go out there to make sure my snap doesn't mess the play up."
Surprisingly, Wagner's love of science did not reveal itself until well after he had started long snapping.
"I was a football player long before I was an engineer," Wagner said. "My brothers were kind of legends at my high school. It was always people talking about 'the Wagner brothers' with baited breath. So for me, it was like, 'Oh, I need to step it up.' At the time, long snapping was still a pretty niche part of the game, but one that I thought my mentality was well suited for.
"I honestly didn't know I was interested in engineering until senior year (of high school). I took an Intro to Engineering class, and in class, I had an aha moment of like, 'Hey, I'm pretty good at this, I could do mechanical engineering for a living.'"
Wagner holds the Paul Bunyan Trophy after Michigan's 49-0 victory over Michigan State (Michigan Photography)
Like many high school students interested in engineering, Wagner's first thought of a college career saw himself attending a university built around the subject, namely the one just 30 minutes down the Georgia 400 from his hometown -- Georgia Tech. That all changed when he got a direct message from the Maize and Blue.
"My best friend in that intro class was a huge Michigan fan, and when I got that DM I was like, 'Hey Logan, check this out,'" Wagner said. "He went crazy about it and told me 'You have to go there,' which made me look into it a little more. I knew Michigan was good at football, but I didn't know Michigan also had a phenomenal engineering school as well, and when I found that out it was a no-brainer."
Focusing on manufacturing engineering for his graduate studies, Wagner aims to be at the forefront of the next leap in technology -- the 3D printing of metals. Under professor Jerard Gordon at the U-M School of Engineering, Wagner has researched the applications of the concept, particularly within the automotive and aerospace industries.
Although an injury cut Wagner's season short in 2022, the Wolverines never had any doubts he would return to top form for 2023. Neither did those evaluating the position across the country. That trust was reflected in Wagner's place on the preseason watch list of the Patrick Mannelly Award, an award presented annually to the country's premier long snapper.
While Wagner certainly sees himself continuing to advance the cause of analytics-based long snapping at the professional level, he hopes also to contribute his skills in the engineering field as well.
"I do see myself playing in (the NFL), but something that a former staff member also suggested I do is find something to do that's correlated to my major in the offseason as well," Wagner said. "So, when I've been thinking about that, I see myself operating within a co-op or something similar to get experience and keep my skills sharp. For me, engineering isn't just something I'm good at, it's something I truly find fun -- I have a 3D printer at home because I love making and tinkering with stuff I've been learning about in class."
Whether it is on the field or in the lab, Wagner's self-professed "tinkering" mindset has propelled him to the cutting edge of his craft.
