Stop sounding so reasonable and logical! That is not allowed on a free message board!!
Nagao or Davis?
- Thread starter RockySmith
- Start date
If we know anything about the coaches and their level of preparation, it was planned from the moment Nagao MFF at Black Knight. Maybe not this specific tourney, but something early Jan to get Davis some matches just in case.
Edinboro easier since a Saturday (F&M is Friday), if he could get on weight so soon after the holidays. And he did.
Desmond was given an interim opportunity and did well with it, but was never the postseason answer for the reason you gave. Maybe could be competitive at 133 if Blaze got hurt, but 141 was a step too much.
I sure wish they hadn't made 247 a pay site as I enjoyed the short time I spent over there before the switch.
If Davis was walking around near 160, I suspect he was given the 'it's time to get down and be ready' the day Nagao first got injured. For him to have entered a multi match tourney this weekend at 141 and done so well seems to indicate most of the pain of the cut is behind him, and I didn't read any complaints about his gas tank. Thank goodness he didn't certify in an open at 157 last month.
I don’t accept the thread title premise. If healthy, it’s coach-ordained Aaron. If injured, the choice is Davis or Desmond. If March potential is perceived equal, I take Braeden for no other reason than his window as a starting Lion is smaller than Nate’s. Also like his quirky-stiff neutral defense and penchant for surprising, even upsetting higher seeds.
Just to piggyback off of this a little, Davis also had a full season at 133 last year and AA’d, so going up to 141 and having a plan in place to do so is a huge difference from Nate doing it weeks after weighing in at 125.
Especially if reports are accurate that Davis was close to 160. Now that's a 22.5 lb difference in 'natural' size.
Braeden all day every day and twice on Saturday (night!). I haven't seen anything from Nagao even when he's healthy that I would bet on.
Injuries are a bummer and I feel for Nagao. Assuming he is injured, I'm confident with Braeden taking the spot. He's very interesting, as he has proven that he can beat anyone, but, sometimes loses to lower seeds due to the same style that makes him dangerous for everyone.
So does anyone know if his injury from 2 years ago was a shoulder ( al la Robby Howard, even Cassar)?
It sure looked to me like his latest injury was a wrist but if the original injury was a shoulder and it once again went out, one could see how this might signify the end of the road.
There is something about that underneath position from neutral that just exposed a shoulder to some serious strain, and instead a recurrence is lingering around that next instance of getting caught underneath.
Regardless, it's terrible for Aaron.
I am not so sure we will see the final decision at Rutgers, but one would think whomever runs out against Iowa in 2 weeks is likely the guy.
I think most now assume we are now 95% sure it's Braeden, but how crazy insane would it be to see Ono run out onto the mat at Carver?
It sure looked to me like his latest injury was a wrist but if the original injury was a shoulder and it once again went out, one could see how this might signify the end of the road.
There is something about that underneath position from neutral that just exposed a shoulder to some serious strain, and instead a recurrence is lingering around that next instance of getting caught underneath.
Regardless, it's terrible for Aaron.
I am not so sure we will see the final decision at Rutgers, but one would think whomever runs out against Iowa in 2 weeks is likely the guy.
I think most now assume we are now 95% sure it's Braeden, but how crazy insane would it be to see Ono run out onto the mat at Carver?
Yes he had his shoulder done and missed last year. I posted here after the injury it looked like his shoulder went out when he posted his hand on the mat. People were confused because they saw the trainer messing with his wrist while also holding his elbow and that told me he was trying to put his shoulder back in not that he injured his wrist. My guess is they decided to rehab and brace it up and see how it felt and by the looks of things he's gonna need another operation or more time rehabbing
With Davis being 160-ish, and since he keeps getting pressed into service w/o the benefit of a redshirt so far, I wonder if the staff thinks he could finish up at 149 for a year after SVN is gone - if he ever gets the redshirt that is.
If Davis does a re-boot on his redshirt season next year, then comes back to compete for AA at 149 in a tight ‘28 team race with Okie St., then he is the ultimate team guy and a PSU legend in my mind.
You must have read my mind or something. I was just thinking (befor being stopped in my tracks by yet another football portal entry) that I should pop over here and give an update on that.
Penn State scheduled Cael for 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday last week. However, earlier today, they bumped it up to 9:30 a.m. ET tomorrow.
At this point, I think you definitely have to go with Davis because you can't trust that Nagao will be able to make it through a match, let alone an entire Big Ten & National Tourney.
For those confused about the injury, he obviously had something done to his shoulder last year, and shoulders are notoriously hard surgeries to come back from.
As Corby stated, when he got hurt this year, it was pretty clear it was his right shoulder.
At the Black Knight Invite, he didn't wear a shoulder brace. He gets injured shooting in.
Holding (Contracting) Rt arm. The trainer is supporting his wrist while working on the shoulder.
Watch what Cassar does when he injures his shoulder. Where the trainer grabs. Same thing.
After being out with injury, he comes out in the Southern Scuffle now wearing a shoulder brace. Nothing on his wrist. For some reason, I didn't see anyone on here point out in the Souther Scuffle at 9:01 after his match, he is shaking out that shoulder, clearly bothered. Someone did point out that he shakes hands with his left hand. Just like he did in the Black Knight after getting injured.
He may not have reinjured it badly, but it is clearly bothering him/not 100%. I don't know how you continue to bet on his shoulder holding up through the season, especially when you have an AA just sitting there and appears to be ready to compete.
Sucks for Nagao. Feel for the kid.
It does. Almost everyone finds out they won’t realize their dreams due to injuries or just not good enough. Just a matter of when. It’s a bummer if it is truly his time.
This is why depth is important. With everything else being discussed allow me to say that Pierce looked freaking amazing last week. It's a bridge too far though for him to go down to 141 but I just remembered Tyler Kasak two years ago the second I typed this 
I’m almost surprised that we don’t hear the following question more:
When did you realize that you’re not good enough?
I guess you didn't see Aaron wrestle RBY or Mendez 3 years ago when he became a Fr AA. Cael was impressed enough to pursue him in the portal ... but then what does he know?
Unfortunately, we haven't seen him healthy since, but I am going with Cael's decision to give him every chance to reach his potential.
I do agree, though, that it will be Davis going forward.
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It's kind of funny how Davis' career has gone, he was thought to be kind of a "how does he even fit, will he ever start" kind of recruit to not redshirting and having a pretty decorated career
2024 - Was supposed to redshirt, Robbie never recovered and he was clearly the best option. He wins B1Gs and gets 1 seed (unfortunately drawing the champ in the quarters and finishes R12 as a true freshman)
2025 - Was support to redshirt, injury to Aaron put him into the lineup, places 5th
2026 - Was suppose to redshirt, same situation, injury to Aaron caused him to be in the lineup
2024 - Was supposed to redshirt, Robbie never recovered and he was clearly the best option. He wins B1Gs and gets 1 seed (unfortunately drawing the champ in the quarters and finishes R12 as a true freshman)
2025 - Was support to redshirt, injury to Aaron put him into the lineup, places 5th
2026 - Was suppose to redshirt, same situation, injury to Aaron caused him to be in the lineup
While Cael didn't say anything directly at his interview today, I certainly picked up vibes that Nagao won't be able to go and it's Davis's spot this year. Correction!
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When I read this:I’m almost surprised that we don’t hear the following question more:
When did you realize that you’re not good enough?
" ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
Hard to appeal to a higher authority. Perhaps someone on the HR Board?When I read this:
" ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
A bit surprising to see Nagao in the match notes. Then again I honestly don't know the source for that info, it is 'reliably unreliable' when it comes to the status of injured wrestlers.
Zero chance he goes this week, and I suspect he is done for the year, and short of another surgery, probably done for his career. A really great kid, but I am almost hoping he doesn't go the multiple surgery route. I think realistically, in wrestling and with shoulders specifically, you have but one 'good' shot a successful surgery, rehab and return. If it gets blown out a second time; the third, fourth and fourth times are just a matter of time.
Zero chance he goes this week, and I suspect he is done for the year, and short of another surgery, probably done for his career. A really great kid, but I am almost hoping he doesn't go the multiple surgery route. I think realistically, in wrestling and with shoulders specifically, you have but one 'good' shot a successful surgery, rehab and return. If it gets blown out a second time; the third, fourth and fourth times are just a matter of time.
You rarely get your wires crossed. Looking forward to seeing how he does. Should be a great year for PSU fans.
According to Brantt: "Davis full-time 141 moving forward."
Unless SlipperyPete kept typing the wrong name Saturday, my hunch is Davis.
I would still love to see Aaron hit one more match at Rec, to get his hand raised in front of that crowd before he rides into the sunset. (If it comes to that).
I would still love to see Aaron hit one more match at Rec, to get his hand raised in front of that crowd before he rides into the sunset. (If it comes to that).
For me, it was the first time I was pinned in > 0:30 during my first year of junior high in 7th grade. LOL.I’m almost surprised that we don’t hear the following question more:
When did you realize that you’re not good enough?
Aside from the one off-mat transgression, Davis's fit with the PSU culture couldn't be any be any better. He came from a high school program that won states all 4 years he was there, so he came knowing how to conduct himself in a program where everyone is expected to win every match every time, and it showed from the start where he was forced into the lineup as a true frosh due to Robbie's injury/injuries and just started winning from the word go, just as any Penn State wrestler is expected to do. Davis obviously doesn't have the pedigree of a Blaze or Lilledahl (or Ono), and we're never going to see him in the Olympics or World Championships like those guys, but he's been the perfect guy to have for the role he's had to fill for this team.
Outside of Mendez, 141 is pretty wide open. Vega is a champion caliber wrestler but a true frosh this year, and the other elite guys like Hardy and Composto are obviously tough but aren't in the "next question" category of elite hammers. If Davis is on the other side of the draw from Mendez, he could end up in the final against Mendez and while it would be a monumental upset to beat Mendez who knows what can happen on Saturday night. Does Mendez's mother wear glasses? Getting up to a 2 or 3 seed in the tournament is going to be what everyone is shooting for this year.
Man, i didn't even make it out of the junior high wrestling room. then again, i had the misfortune of weighing about the same as a kid that was an eventual 2x AA.
Remember him well. Huge win over Gary McClure from Waynesburg at Wpials. McClure was a Junior Olympic legend and a 3 time defending WPIAL champion.