Wagner Football May Have Arrived in 2026

Every year at the end of the season, I look at Wagner football and come to the same conclusion: this team was better than the year before.

At some point, when the same thing happens every year, you become accustomed to it.

Jack Stevens is the likely starter at QB for the Seahawks. He split time with Jordan Barton last season, but with Barton moving on Stevens is the likely face of the team on offense. He’s still young, but he was a big get for the Seahawks in recruiting and quarterback development takes time at the college level. Expect to see him take a second year leap forward.

He’ll be helped along by WRs Teree McDonald and Jeremiah Colclough. This is a top 3 returning WR duo in the NEC, and I only say top 3 because at the top of the league it’s too close to call. Having weapons to throw to will obviously assist both with development and production.

Where this Wagner team really shines will be on the defensive line, though. They return Ethan Apollon and Logan Barnes, two of the best along the line in the league last season. It’s a filthy combo. Expect them to be stout up front. I really liked what I saw out of of South Florida transfer Eli Hiscock at linebacker last season, so even the next level might give opponents trouble.

When I look at this Wagner team, the comparison that immediately comes to mind is 2025 Mercyhurst. I had the Lakers picked low, but I really couldn’t figure out why except for the transition into the league. Certainly they seemed to have enough pieces to make a run, but it was hard to know how they’d translate.

For Wagner, though, you kind of know how they’ll fare this season because of the flashes they showed last year including a victory over Duquesne that was not as close as it looked and a game against CCSU that they probably should have won.

The NEC is a funny thing. But I don’t think you’re paying close enough attention if you don’t at least project Wagner in the top half of the conference in the preseason. They are absolutely contenders for the FCS playoff spot this year.