University of Akron junior linebacker Brian Wagner was named to Phil Steele's All-Mid-American Conference First Team, the publication announced on Wednesday.

Wagner, who earned All-MAC First-Team recognition from the league office in November (voted on by the coaches), was a member of this year's Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (given to the nation's top defender) and ranks second nationally and first in the league in tackles (13.4 tpg) this season. He's one of two MAC players to average double digits in that category this season (Ball State's Travis Freeman, 11.2 tpg).

A team captain and member of the program's 12-player leadership council, Wagner posted a team-high 147 tackles this season (56 solo, 91 assists) in 11 games (was sidelined due to a knee injury for the last game of the year at Western Michigan on Nov. 25).

He recorded a career-best 22 tackles versus FIU on Oct. 8, which is the most by a MAC player in a game this season and is tied for fourth best by a player nationally in 2011 (Mike Taylor, Wisconsin, Oct. 29 at Ohio State). Wagner posted 10 or more tackles nine times this season and 15 or more on five occasions.

The Springfield, Ohio (Springfield Catholic Central HS) native led Akron in tackles during the 2009 and 2010 seasons as well (130 in 2010, 132 in 2009) and was an All-American in 2009 in addition to earning all-conference recognition that year as well.

Wagner has recorded 409 career tackles in 35 starts. Those 409 stops rank him sixth on the NCAA's active career leader's list.