Ya and it’s not like we currently have a known better option. Would be different if we had an AA that needed to finish out senior season. I don’t see him winning a title as a true freshman at that weight but I don’t think anyone would call me crazy for saying he’s gonna be in contention.
Next Years Lineup
- Thread starter Cowboy1989
- Start date
NIL money is already locked in, and it’s hard to imagine there’s an upgrade from him on the roster or in the portal. That’s NIL $$ that could be for another transfer where they’re worried about an actual gap. 174, HWT, maybe 133? I definitely think Dee has all the talent to AA as a true freshman. Win a title? Maybe/probably not with Messenbrink, but if you told me Spencer Lee wasn’t going to win 4 titles I’d have called you insane too.
Plus, if this staff continues to recruit how we’d like them too, they’ll just have the next Dee on the roster by the time his eligibility is up, right?
Plus, if this staff continues to recruit how we’d like them too, they’ll just have the next Dee on the roster by the time his eligibility is up, right?
When OSU lineup includes Ayala at 133, Norman at 174, McEnelly at 184, Taye at HWT, GIA will be loud. (Let me dream)
You got HWT wrong. Gable gets another year of eligibility because he asked nicely, and transfers to OSU to finish up the doctorate in molecular biology he’s been working on.
Naa, I want to keep my expectations realistic
Replace McEnelly with Angelo Ferrari and we'll be cooking.
I still say Hamiti gets another year, maybe three. He spent 3 years at that Wisconsin junior college. Believe they already ruled on the juco year(s) not counting.
Insert Ramirez, Rin and Vega. They could all possibly make a splash 33-41. Also if Merrill goes 84 (this is picking up steam) don't count out someone like Kruz Goff at 197. He's athletic, offensive, strong and mean as hell. If he buys into the DT lifestyle and program he is an absolute beast if he can make the weight. L Rob will never see 41. I was thinking earlier this year he was a potential 49 but he appears to have gotten bigger. We could also see a surprise at 97.
I had in my head we RS these new studs comin in and when we get Jax and Ross go make a run. But ideally you dont want to have to replace 5-6 weights in one year. So let's see what happens.
Also word is there's another stud high on the 26' list that is re-opening his recruiting and will take some trips. Fingers crossed Stilly is on his list.
Has Bo gotten tired of Iowa already?
He's do not contact so somebody has him already.
Is it the staff that thinks Merrill can go 184 or is he pushing for it as well? If it’s the staff it says a lot about how they perceive Thompson going forward.
They dress their sheep up as women. How could you get tired of that...
He struggled as a true freshman, but that was the old staff that didn’t really help the guys with making weight healthily/sustainably, so who knows. You could see the cut start to take its toll on him as the season wore on.
Imagining him at 197 is kinda wild. He never looked like a big 174 to me.
I thought he looked ideal for 174 and had the length to be a 184 if he needed to. Honestly would be keen to know what he certified at and how he’d look at 174 with this new staff coaching him up and helping him with maintaining weight. Don’t think he ever had to do that in high school since he was pretty much always “the best”.
Replying to @vhsalum from Big 12 thread.
Forgot about Travis. He might be fringe top 5 if he uses the off season well. I want to believe in Sakamoto, but dont know much. I would like Vega to red shirt, I dont think he will be ready. Hughes, will see if 141 is where he will excel. He needs to get better.
125 - Sprately, 133 - ? , 141 - Improved Hughes, 149 - Jamison, 157 - Travis, 156 - Dee, 174 - portal, 184 - Merrill (Though I would prefer if he can stay at 197 where his competition will be low too), 197 - portal, 285 - Doucet/Portal.
If Hughes doesnt improve, I can see Jamison staying at 141 too.
Forgot about Travis. He might be fringe top 5 if he uses the off season well. I want to believe in Sakamoto, but dont know much. I would like Vega to red shirt, I dont think he will be ready. Hughes, will see if 141 is where he will excel. He needs to get better.
125 - Sprately, 133 - ? , 141 - Improved Hughes, 149 - Jamison, 157 - Travis, 156 - Dee, 174 - portal, 184 - Merrill (Though I would prefer if he can stay at 197 where his competition will be low too), 197 - portal, 285 - Doucet/Portal.
If Hughes doesnt improve, I can see Jamison staying at 141 too.
Remember that Carter Young has another year if he decides to come back, but I actually like Travis at 149 as I think he was a bit undersized at 157. Really wish Hughes could get his weight in check and make 133. That would be a good 125-149.
Can Merrill make 184? If so what do we do with Thompson and Robb (who I think has a lot of promise). Thompson can't make 174 and Robb is too short for 197.
Im guessing we see Doucet next year. Hopefully with Hendrickson in the room and more time with the new staff he can get some offense going.
Can Merrill make 184? If so what do we do with Thompson and Robb (who I think has a lot of promise). Thompson can't make 174 and Robb is too short for 197.
Im guessing we see Doucet next year. Hopefully with Hendrickson in the room and more time with the new staff he can get some offense going.
Are we 1000% certain Thompson can’t go 174 with this new nutrition and training regiment DT has brought in? Jamison looked near dead at 141 to end last season and he’s overall looked great this year. A healthy cut supported by good nutrition instead of beer weight may make a huge difference
It makes no sense to cut Merrill to 184 especially since we don't have a good 197. Plus before the season everyone wondered if he could make 197 and be strong. He is close to Buchanon when they wrestled in January. Why would anyone like to make wrestling miserable for Merrill. Big cutters have to always have to focus on their weight instead of focusing on getting better at wrestling. We have a potential National Champ at 197 and I remember a quote from Cody that he likes to be able to eat.
Time will tell...
Just saying he certified there, and it has picked up steam in discussions.
I agree. Merrill is a title contender at 197 without a really hard cut.
Merrill lost to Buchanan 2-0 mostly on riding time, because he looked quite small compared to Buchanan. Cardenas, AJ, Barr will be some of his competition. Out of which Buchanan gave up TDs to only AJ and Cardenas. The competition between these 4 will be great to watch. But AJ and Cardenas will be tier 1, Barr and Merrill in tier 2.
Yeah, I'm not sure why people have strong opinions on this one way or another. None of us have much of clue what his ideal weight is. I'm sure its not a decision Cody or the coaching staff will be careless with. Just from the optics he doesn't look all that big for 197.
Merrill is short but he's very thick. Buchanan looks huge for the weight to me. I don't know about tier two, I think Merrill can go with anybody next year.
We can see how it plays out but expecting Dee or Merrill or really any other freshman to end up top 4 is TOUGH. We have had other highly decorated freshman not even do that. Particularly Dee if he doesn’t RS. I hope I am wrong.
Maybe except Merrill is a true freshman 18 or 19 now Barr is probably 20, Ferrari is probably 24, and Cardenas and Buchanon are listed as seniors. So usually, a college wrestler improves the most between his 1st and 2nd year of college. You might be right about those tiers but by next year I would not bet that you are right. A year in a college weight room could do wonders for Merrill. I watched the match between Buchanon and Merril and there was an inch of difference between the 2 because Buchanon rode Merrill for 2 minutes but there were several times that Merrill got up and was close to an escape ( the difference in the match). True freshmen tend to struggle on the bottom their 1st year of college and those motivated improve a lot on the bottom.
Ah my bad. For some reason I thought he has one more year.
The fact that Rin, who is an excellent freestyle guy, came to America to learn folkstyle makes me think he is a true student of the game. If that's true, then I expect to see big improvements from him in the next 1-2 years. If he's our 33 next year, it should be a hell of a ride
Lots of questions about next year's lineup. Who will cert at 133, does Cael go 141, does Jamison go 149? Does OK State start a few true freshmen in the middle weights? Does anyone transfer in to fill some holes? Does anyone transfer out (Young?) What do you all think? I do not see it very clearly below at all, lots of different options!
2025-26 Lineup
125: Spratley
133: Sakamoto/McComas/Hughes
141: Jamison/Hughes/Vega
149: Jamison/Travis/Robideau
157: Travis/Robideau
165: Lockett/Robideau/Transfer?
174: Lockett/Mower/Transfer?
184: Thompson/Robb
197: Merrill
HWT: Doucet/Transfer?
2025-26 Lineup
125: Spratley
133: Sakamoto/McComas/Hughes
141: Jamison/Hughes/Vega
149: Jamison/Travis/Robideau
157: Travis/Robideau
165: Lockett/Robideau/Transfer?
174: Lockett/Mower/Transfer?
184: Thompson/Robb
197: Merrill
HWT: Doucet/Transfer?
By that it looks like 174 is our definitely biggest need for a portal guy. I wonder who will be available
Maybe Garrett Thompson from Ohio? I’m sure there’ll be somebody good.