By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
The NFL Players Association has invited defensive end Zack Wagenmann of the University of Montana to play in the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 17, and the Missoula native has accepted their invitation.
Wagenmann was named to four All-American squads following his senior season. He was tabbed first team by The Sports Network, American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and the Associated Press. He was also selected the Big Sky Conference’s MVP on defense.
The 6-3 ½, 255-pounder finished his senior campaign third in the balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year). He ranked third nationally in sacks (1.25 average per game), sixth in forced fumbles (0.43 per game), and 13th in tackles for loss (1.6 per game).
A defensive co-captain, Wagenmann wore the Grizzlies’ legacy number 37 his senior year and tallied 22.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and 74 total tackles in 2014.
Photo by ©Mark Mesenko for MakeItMissoula.com
Wagenmann is a three-time All-Big Sky First Team selection and played in 52 career games. He broke three program career records: sacks (37.5), tackles for loss (49) and forced fumbles (11).
He will be one of the talented draft-eligible seniors competing in the all-star game on Saturday, January 17 at StubHub Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.
Kickoff for the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is at 2:00 p.m. (Mtn.), and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.
ESPNU will also air live broadcasts from practices on Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15.
For player confirmations and other news surrounding the game, follow us on Twitter (@NFLPABowl), Instagram (NFLPABowl), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NFLPACollegiateBowl) and Google+ (http://Google.com/+NFLPACollegiateBowl).
For one week preceding the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, participants will receive an in-depth introduction to the union – the primary resource for information on the business of football and how to succeed in the NFL and in post-football careers.
Professional football players and NFL coaching legends will work with the game’s future stars, giving them first-hand insight on what it takes to win on and off of the field. Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz will serve as the head coaches for the American and National Teams. (Go to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl site for a full list of the teams’ assistant coaches.)