Bob Wager ‘banking on’ Texas recruits coming to Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska’s tight end coach, Bob Wager, has zero collegiate experience.

But Wager has over 30 years of coaching experience at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.

“I hope that experience gives me the opportunity to bring some value to the program and bring some value to the coaches and kids that are in it,” he said Thursday.

Wager’s Texas ties helped Nebraska secure multiple recruits, including some Martin High alums: Jeremiah Charles, Ismael Smith Flores and Gage Wager (Bob’s son).

Since being hired by head coach Matt Rhule, Wager has spent a good portion of his time recruiting in the Dallas and Fort Worth area.

And several coaches joined Wager in the effort to recruit in the Longhorn State, which paid off with six new freshmen.

Wager said Nebraska is making a “conscientious effort” to restore the Texas-to-Nebraska pipeline, which was prevalent years ago.

“Can we bring the Texas high school football player to the University of Nebraska?” Wager asked. “We’re banking on it.”

Bob Wager, the #Huskers new TE coach was a high school head coach for more than 20 seasons. Most recently at Arlington Martin High School in Texas where he had a 143-64-1 record with the Warriors.

What values does he bring to NU?

“Human development before player development.” pic.twitter.com/ioVkoBpulp

— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) February 9, 2023

Now, why would Wager leave his longtime head coaching gig to rebuild the historied Nebraska football program?

Wager said it came down to his relationship with Rhule, whom he met when Rhule was at Baylor.

“At the end of the day, it’s coach Matt Rhule, a great staff that I’ve had a chance and a pleasure to get to know in the last month and a half,” he said. “And it’s the University of Nebraska.”

Rhule’s work in developing not only the team, but also the human being, was also important in Wager’s decision.

“I’m always gonna be a high school football coach,” Wager said. “I just happen to be coaching at the University of Nebraska now.”