Notre Dame Right Tackle Aamil Wagner Reflects on Orange Bowl Clash with First-Rounder Abdul Carter, Calls it Career Defining Moment
The Orange Bowl under the lights in Miami was more than just a postseason matchup between two historic college football programs—it was a proving ground. And for Notre Dame’s right tackle Aamil Wagner, it became the ultimate personal challenge. Lined up against Penn State’s Abdul Carter, one of the most feared edge rushers in college football and now a first-round NFL Draft pick, Wagner found himself in the eye of the storm. The spotlight was glaring, the stakes were high, and the man across from him was elite. But for Wagner, it wasn’t about fear. It was about opportunity.
Months after the game, Wagner is still reflecting on that night—every snap, every adjustment, every ounce of pressure. And according to him, it was the most important performance of his career.
“That was the game where everything clicked for me,” Wagner said. “You hear all year about how dominant Carter is. He’s explosive, fast, strong, smart—everything you’d expect from a first-round talent. But once we started going at it, I realized I belonged. That game confirmed it for me.”
Wagner’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. Carter, who had wreaked havoc on nearly every offensive line he faced throughout the season, was held in check by Wagner on multiple key downs. It wasn’t a flawless battle—how could it be against someone like Carter? But Wagner stood his ground. He absorbed bull rushes, redirected speed moves, and communicated seamlessly with his line mates in the face of relentless pressure.
For Wagner, the duel wasn’t just physical—it was mental.
“You have to lock in on every snap with a guy like that,” he said. “He disguises things. One moment he’s in a wide-nine stance, then he stunts inside. If you lose focus for one second, he’s in the backfield.”
Wagner credits his preparation as the reason he was able to handle Carter’s skill set. In the weeks leading up to the Orange Bowl, he dove deep into film study, dissecting Carter’s tendencies. He studied his first step, how he used his hands, the angles he preferred. But more than that, Wagner worked tirelessly on his own weaknesses—his footwork, hand placement, and anchor strength. By kickoff, he knew he wasn’t just facing Carter—he was facing his own growth curve.
“Every rep I had in that game was like a final exam,” Wagner said. “There’s no hiding in a game like that. You either block your man or you don’t. You either protect your quarterback or he’s on the ground. It was raw, it was real, and I loved it.”
The Orange Bowl was also symbolic of Wagner’s evolution within the Notre Dame program. Once a talented but raw prospect out of Dayton, Ohio, Wagner arrived in South Bend with a frame built for offensive line dominance—but he needed refinement. Over the years, he gained weight, built strength, and matured technically. The Wagner who stood across from Abdul Carter was not the same player who enrolled as a freshman. He was smarter, stronger, and confident in his ability to handle elite competition.
Notre Dame’s offensive line tradition is well known. From Zack Martin to Quenton Nelson to Mike McGlinchey, the standard is high. And for Wagner, that legacy was a motivator.
“I’ve always respected the tradition here,” Wagner said. “Those guys before me set the bar. Going into that game, I thought a lot about what it means to wear this jersey, to play that right tackle spot. I wanted to make them proud.”
It wasn’t just pride at stake—it was also the trust of his teammates and coaches. Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph challenged Wagner to rise to the moment, knowing Carter would test him more than any defender all year. That trust paid off.
“There’s a reason Aamil’s our guy,” Rudolph said after the game. “He never blinked. That was a heavyweight battle out there, and he embraced it.”
Wagner’s teammates also rallied around him. Quarterback Tyler Buchner, who returned as the starter for the Orange Bowl, repeatedly praised Wagner’s protection throughout the game.
“Facing that Penn State front, you need your O-line to play at a high level,” Buchner said. “Aamil was a rock. I could feel his presence every time I dropped back. That gave me confidence.”
What makes Wagner’s performance even more impressive is the context. Carter had spent much of the season terrorizing offensive lines across the Big Ten. With 12 sacks and dozens of quarterback pressures, he was the engine of Penn State’s aggressive defense. NFL evaluators pegged him as a Day 1 impact player. But on Orange Bowl night, Wagner matched that intensity, snap for snap.
“It felt like chess,” Wagner recalled. “You can’t do the same thing over and over with a guy like Carter. You’ve got to mix up your sets, your punches, your timing. He’s trying to bait you, and you’re trying to bait him. It’s as cerebral as it is physical.”
The game ended in a thrilling Notre Dame victory, a capstone to a strong season and a building block for what’s ahead. For Wagner, it was more than a win—it was a declaration. And for NFL scouts watching the tape, it was hard to ignore how well he handled one of the draft’s top defensive players.
Since that night, Wagner’s draft stock has steadily risen. What was once seen as raw potential is now being recognized as real polish. His length, his balance, his agility—traits that jump off the screen. But more importantly, his performance under pressure has earned respect.
“I’m not focused on the draft right now,” Wagner said. “That will come. My focus is on being the best I can for Notre Dame. But I’ll always be proud of how I handled that matchup. It was a test. And I passed it.”
As the Irish prepare for another run in 2025, Wagner is already locked in. He’s using the Carter showdown as a reference point, not a finish line. He’s working on his pad level, his punch timing, his recovery footwork. Because as good as he was, Wagner believes there’s still another level.
“I want to dominate every rep, not just survive,” he said. “Carter pushed me. Now I know what that level looks like. That’s the standard.”
There’s a quiet intensity in how Wagner talks now—measured, focused, mature. He understands that one game doesn’t define a career. But he also knows that sometimes, one game can crystallize everything you’ve worked for. And the Orange Bowl was exactly that.
When asked if he had any conversations with Carter after the game, Wagner smiled.
“Just a quick handshake and mutual respect,” he said. “He knew I brought it. And I knew he did too. That’s what it’s about.”
For Notre Dame, having an anchor like Aamil Wagner at right tackle sets the tone for the entire offense. For Wagner, that Orange Bowl night in Miami was more than a personal battle—it was a breakthrough. And as the 2025 season looms, he’s ready to build on that foundation.
“I want to leave a legacy here,” Wagner said. “Not just as a guy who had a good game. I want to be remembered as one of the greats.”
If his performance against Abdul Carter is any indication, he’s already well on his way.
