University of North Carolina Athletics
Lee Pace's Extra Points
August 21, 2000 | Football
Aug. 21, 2000
The racket from the beefy linemen resounded across the practice field one day last week when, in a one-on-one pass-protection drill, James Wagstaff got the best of All-America-in-waiting Julius Peppers. Not once. But twice. Neither was what you'd term a pancake block, but Big Wags was on top on the ground each time when the whistle blew.
A sheepish grin crosses Peppers' face remembering the exchange.
"Wags has lost a lot of weight and is moving his feet quicker," he says. "He's doing a great job."
From highs in the 375-380 pound range, Wagstaff, a fifth-year senior, is down to a svelte 345 pounds.
"I'm able to get off the ball a lot faster now and I have more stamina," says Wagstaff, slated to start at right tackle this fall. "I don't get tired as quickly as before."
Wagstaff wears an XXXX-large shirt and was nicknamed "Total Eclipse" by his high school coach. He started all 11 games in 1998 at left guard but shared the position with Mike Gimbol because he couldn't go full-tilt for four quarters. When he couldn't shed any weight leading to his junior year, he was banished to the doghouse of then-line coach Steve Marshall and played only three games last fall.
A clean slate with new coach Robbie Caldwell, some education from UNC nutritionist Tausha Robertson and renewed desire have prompted the changes in Wagstaff's waistline.
"I'm really proud of James," says Caldwell. "He's always been very talented and athletic. But the quickness in his feet now is amazing. Hopefully he can go a bit further and pick up another step with every 10 pounds he loses. He's so strong, his first punch off the ball is tremendous. He's strong enough to handle Julius, but he's just never been quick enough."
A lunch in the past for Wagstaff might have included two cheeseburgers, a chicken breast, a plate of fries and four slices of pizza, all washed down with 40 ounces of orange soda. Now he's learned to count calories and fat grams and at the grocery store buys ground turkey instead of beef and skim milk instead of two percent.
"I can eat anything I want, I've just go to be smart about it," Wagstaff says.
By the way, Peppers wasted Wagstaff on the third try, bull-rushing to the outside. Wags is quicker, but not that quick.
