Waggoner Unhitched for Visits

There may be no recruit who has seen his stock soar more this spring than 2018 West Des Moines (Iowa) Dowling three-star defensive end John Waggoner.

In recent months, Iowa's No. 1 player has picked up offers from powerhouses like Florida, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Penn State.

Being sought after by some of the country’s most prestigious college programs is inspiring, but truly top athletes seek competition with the best of the best to test their mettle, which is exactly what drove Waggoner to the Rivals Three-Stripe Camp in St. Louis (along with his dad) that featured elite prospects from 20 different states.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Waggoner more than held his own in a defensive line group that had few equals in regionals across the nation.

“It felt really good to see where you stack up against all the other talent around here,” Waggoner recounted.

An eventful spring culminating in a strong performance at a Rivals camp will quickly transition into a full summer of visits for Waggoner and a trip to Norman is likely on the docket.

“I’m going to have a really big month coming up. I’ll get to OU in June. I don’t know the date for sure yet – I’m thinking maybe the 9th – but I still have to figure all that out.”

The Sooners are not the only ones who can expect a visit from the nation’s No. 16 weakside defensive end, as Waggoner plans to traverse all over the United States in a medley of power five programs from different conferences.

“I have three other schools I’m trying to visit in June – Oregon, Penn State, and LSU.”

Waggoner admits he is still in the early stages of building relationships with coaching staffs, including Sooner defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux, but says the "success and tradition" of Oklahoma are too much to ignore and "once I get this visit scheduled we’ll get (the relationship) picked up.”

While on campuses, Waggoner will be looking for a school that provides “Good player development, a good fit, and just that family-type culture that feels like home.”

For an Iowan that received his first two division offers from both in-state schools and who also holds offers from essentially every elite Big 10 program, these visits will be crucial for colleges a little further away from home to make the cut as Waggoner evolves in the recruiting process.

“After these visits really is when I’m going to start thinking about (narrowing down schools), because then I can compare everything and look at the pros and cons of each school.”