165

[OAMC99]

What if we redshirted Lockett and dropped Facundo to 165? Facundo has a ton of potential but I don't think he can make much impact at 174. I think he would All-American at 165. Plus you have Messinbrink looming so neither one is going to likely win a NC the next two years.

Is this a terrible idea? Is it even possible? Too late in the season?

 

[TheJimReaper]

What if we redshirted Lockett and dropped Facundo to 165? Facundo has a ton of potential but I don't think he can make much impact at 174. I think he would All-American at 165. Plus you have Messinbrink looming so neither one is going to likely win a NC the next two years.

Is this a terrible idea? Is it even possible? Too late in the season?

Too late in the season at this point imo plus Dee like Sergio and Landon has more than earned his spot. Not sure who we’d start at 74.

 

[ctdub]

He’s undefeated and ranked #2. Yes, it’s a terrible idea.

 

[okokzach]

What if we redshirted Lockett and dropped Facundo to 165? Facundo has a ton of potential but I don't think he can make much impact at 174. I think he would All-American at 165. Plus you have Messinbrink looming so neither one is going to likely win a NC the next two years.

Is this a terrible idea? Is it even possible? Too late in the season?

Definitely a bad idea to sit Dee who 1) wanted (I mean WANTED!) to wrestle this year and 2) is killing it. And too late to RS. So yeah, 0% chance

But setting aside those pesky facts, it is an interesting question how well Facundo might perform at 165. He doesn't look undersized to me at 174 but maybe part of his difficulty finishing shots is a lack of strength? Not sure. And could Ryder then make 174 and perform well? It's an interesting thought.

 

[OAMC99]

He’s undefeated and ranked #2. Yes, it’s a terrible idea.

LMAO, fair enough! He's also in the same weight class as a likely 2x Hodge winner so there's that.

I'm going to bookmark this one.

 

[Chasingthirty-five]

As much as I want 4x champions, I would gladly take 4x finalist from any Cowboy. As it sits (and was stated already) you don’t swap in a potential AA/BR talent for a potential finalist.

Now, it wouldn’t surprise me pending how March goes for these guys to swap next year. Not sure how Facundo would feel about it, but I expected Dee at 174 for next year (with or without a RS this year).

 

[NCcowboy]

Definitely a bad idea to sit Dee who 1) wanted (I mean WANTED!) to wrestle this year and 2) is killing it. And too late to RS. So yeah, 0% chance

I agree Dee continues to wrestle this year - he has won, but has not separated himself and we know Freshmen can make a deep run in the tournament or lose Thursday. I hope the former, but more confident Landon And Sergio wrestling Saturday to this point.

 

[OAMC99]

I agree Dee continues to wrestle this year - he has won, but has not separated himself and we know Freshmen can make a deep run in the tournament or lose Thursday. I hope the former, but more confident Landon And Sergio wrestling Saturday to this point.

NC this is exactly what I am thinking. I think he is a future national champion. However, this year I see very little separation in his victories, gas tank issues, and the most unbeatable guy in college wrestling in his bracket.

Plus we are going to get beat by 50+ points in the team race. I just don't get It. Cael Sanderson is the best wrestling coach ever. Why are we not copying exactly what he did to start his reign?

 

[TheJimReaper]

NC this is exactly what I am thinking. I think he is a future national champion. However, this year I see very little separation in his victories, gas tank issues, and the most unbeatable guy in college wrestling in his bracket.

Plus we are going to get beat by 50+ points in the team race. I just don't get It. Cael Sanderson is the best wrestling coach ever. Why are we not copying exactly what he did to start his reign?

You have to remember tho that was a very different time and culture in college sports back then. Back then you could tell someone they were going to redshirt and there wasn’t much they could do about it.

Nowadays they can just find a new school and wrestle for them in that same year.

 

[osu2082]

NC this is exactly what I am thinking. I think he is a future national champion. However, this year I see very little separation in his victories, gas tank issues, and the most unbeatable guy in college wrestling in his bracket.

Plus we are going to get beat by 50+ points in the team race. I just don't get It. Cael Sanderson is the best wrestling coach ever. Why are we not copying exactly what he did to start his reign?

I agree that MM fro PSU is on a different level and the biggest favorite to win a title in the sport.

I will say most everyone said Caliendo was also on a tier by himself and nobody thought Dee had the gas tank or ability to beat him, especially so early in the season….

 

[newguy123]

NC this is exactly what I am thinking. I think he is a future national champion. However, this year I see very little separation in his victories, gas tank issues, and the most unbeatable guy in college wrestling in his bracket.

Plus we are going to get beat by 50+ points in the team race. I just don't get It. Cael Sanderson is the best wrestling coach ever. Why are we not copying exactly what he did to start his reign?

Redshirting studs was one of about ten things he did to start his reign. He also was the first to do the modern RTC, paying senior level guys when nobody else was. His boosters were able to funnel money around in ways others weren’t. He rested his guys and softened his schedule when others weren’t. I guess my point is, he reinvented the game and I don’t think a team will dethrone him by copying one thing he did.

 

[OAMC99]

You have to remember tho that was a very different time and culture in college sports back then. Back then you could tell someone they were going to redshirt and there wasn’t much they could do about it.

Nowadays they can just find a new school and wrestle for them in that same year.

You're 100% right. But these kids want to wrestle for David Taylor. He is now what Cael Sanderson was back then. They see what he can do for wrestling careers - Hendrickson, Hamiti, and Valencia are the three best examples. I do not think they are going to leave unless they can't see themselves starting at least 2 years.

Everything I am saying is based on the goal of getting #35. There is zero possibility the next two years. Our recruiting class misses and transfers that left plus Penn State's insane roster have ensured that. Our first chance starts in 2028. From there it's looking like we will be able to compete but it's still going to be very tough. You can add Virginia Tech into those years as well.

Our staff is doing an incredible job. They just did not inherit a roster that was capable of competing. Think about what might have been for this year!

125: Spratley
133: Top-10 Recruit Cael Hughes
141: Vega
149: Jamison
157: Robideau
165: Facundo or Lockett
174: Top-10 Recruit Brayden Thompson
184: Angelo Ferrari
197: AJ Ferrari
285: Christian Carroll or KD

 

[Cowboy1989]

You're 100% right. But these kids want to wrestle for David Taylor. He is now what Cael Sanderson was back then. They see what he can do for wrestling careers - Hendrickson, Hamiti, and Valencia are the three best examples. I do not think they are going to leave unless they can't see themselves starting at least 2 years.

Everything I am saying is based on the goal of getting #35. There is zero possibility the next two years. Our recruiting class misses and transfers that left plus Penn State's insane roster have ensured that. Our first chance starts in 2028. From there it's looking like we will be able to compete but it's still going to be very tough. You can add Virginia Tech into those years as well.

Our staff is doing an incredible job. They just did not inherit a roster that was capable of competing. Think about what might have been for this year!

125: Spratley
133: Top-10 Recruit Cael Hughes
141: Vega
149: Jamison
157: Robideau
165: Facundo or Lockett
174: Top-10 Recruit Brayden Thompson
184: Angelo Ferrari
197: AJ Ferrari
285: Christian Carroll or KD

Agreed that this year a national championship is not going to happen, but I would not say 0% for next year. I think next year's team should be quite a bit better than this one even if there are no transfers in. If we have an impact transfer or two and all those freshman develop...who knows - the odds are certainly with Penn State again next year, but I think they start feeling us coming next year and with some luck...