While he may not belong with the hogs of the Redskins in the early 80’s, this hog has been a staple of the Sacramento State football team, starting on the Hornets line for four seasons now.

Terrance Wagner, the Hornets starting center affectionately dubbed “the Hog”, has been starting at the pivot for the past 44 games. Over that time, the Hornets offense has shattered and re-written most major statistical records in school history with Ricky Ray, Charles Roberts, and now Ryan Leadingham now atop those lists.

Speaking of broken records, Wagner’s iron man streak broke the previous record for starts held by Jeff Hoffman, who played with the Oakland Raiders and now resides in the Hall of Fame.

“Number one, it’s pretty amazing that he has started 44 games, which breaks the record of a hall-of-famer,” head coach John Volek said.

Coincidentally, Hoffman played the same position as Wagner, the center position. NFL scouts have also been impressed with Wagner’s consistency and durability.

No Hornets player has been scouted as much as Wagner has this season. Every NFL team has scouted Wagner this season.What makes Wagner a special center? If you ask Volek, he?d be quick to point out Wagner?s temperament.

“He’s very aggressive and smart which allows him to call the blocking,” Volek said.

Wagner made all the protection calls this season with freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham at the helm.

Speaking of pro prospects, the Hornets two years ago sent three offensive linemen – John Osterhout, Lonnie Paxton, and Tim Conley – into camps. Volek believes that Wagner is as good as any of those three.

Volek cautions though that despite an All-American career on the field, a lot is riding on how Wagner fares at the postseason all-star games and workouts for NFL scouts. The NFL combines are currently evaluating Wagner and determining if they will invite him in February to conduct workouts in front of a myriad of NFL officials, coaches, scouts, and general manager-types.

Wagner will be participating in the Florida Gridiron All-Star Classic this January. Wagner’s all-star game performance and practices will play a major factor on how teams view him as a potential prospect because it will be against upper-tier college prospects and not the small school types. Exactly the types he has faced throughout his whole career in the Big Sky.

Wagner, however, has history in his corner ? recent history. Two years ago, quarterbacks Billy Volek and Daunte Culpepper, both of which hail from small schools, participated in this very game and both are currently on NFL rosters.

Volek is backing up quarterbacks Steve McNair and Neil O?Donnell on the Tennessee Titans and Culpepper is starting for the Minnesota Vikings.

“It’s early, it all depends on how he does this postseason,” Volek said.

What helps Wagner is that this year?s crop of centers is considered “weak” and teams each have their separate evaluation, according to the Sporting News.

Translated, Wagner could be drafted in what could be a down year for centers of the 2002 class. And, if so, the Hog would then have a new pen to play in for the 2002 season.