Arizona Wildcats add Illinois State kicker Ian Wagner

Arizona has potentially found its next kicker — and he has Southern Arizona ties.

The Wildcats added former Illinois State kicker Ian Wagner in the transfer portal. Wagner graduated from O’Fallon High School in Central Illinois, but grew up in Sierra Vista.

The 6-2, 215-pound Wagner signed with Illinois State in 2021 and became a three-year starter for the Redbirds.

In 32 games over the last three seasons, Wagner made 25 of 36 field goals (69.4%), including a career-long 47-yarder last season. In 157 kickoff attempts, Wagner tallied 91 touchbacks.

Wagner was Illinois State’s punter in 2023 and averaged 38 yards per attempt and had 11 punts land inside the 20-yard line.

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After the Wildcats lost uber-productive kicker Tyler Loop, Arizona sophomore Michael Salgado-Medina, who was the starting punter last season, shouldered punting and kicking responsibilities during spring practices. Salgado-Medina and social media star Cash Peterman, who entered the transfer portal, exchanged kicks this spring.

First-year special teams coordinator Craig Naivar said he prefers Salgado-Medina to specialize in punting or kicking and he’s “still trying to figure out what avenue he does.”

“Which one does he do?” Naivar said of Salgado-Medina. “We have a really good option there with having his ability to do both. Whatever he does not do, he’ll obviously be a tremendous backup in that regard, if he only does one of them. He gives us some options and has a really strong leg, so I’m excited about the progress he’s made and where he’s at.

“That gives us a direction of where we go now with summer workouts, fall camp and how he acclimates as we fill that room with additions, as well, because we will make some additions. ... We’ll be building some continuity, depth and try to get the best players out there for Saturday afternoons and Saturday nights.”

Arizona also signed San Diego-area punter and kicker Tyler Prasuhn for 2025. Prasuhn is the son of former Arizona kicker John Prasuhn and made 18 of 22 field goals at Carlsbad High School (California).

Arizona kicks off the 2025 season against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Aug. 30 in Tucson.