Don't you respond Spooner - don't you do it.........
Portal April 1st
- Thread starter sdvike
- Start date
Come on now, this is mild. We actually mostly agree. I am just giving the staff the benefit of the doubt because CURRENTLY, they are Iowa committs. I get exactly where Spooner is coming from. Until they are in the room, nothing is for certain, but that can basically be said for an ENTIRE roster under the current student athlete landscape.
Well...no. Getting them on the team is the whole point of recruiting. Without that, the "commitment" is hollow and worthless. As they used to say, a verbal commitment isn't worth the paper it's written on.
That's like giving someone credit for leading at the halfway point of a marathon. Or referring to a guy who goes on dates but doesn't get laid as a cocksman.
I also don't think they are terrible recruiters. But this isn't a reason why. Your earlier points were much better than this one.
LOL...dammit...I read this after I replied as it was on the next page!
This.
That’s only by PSU and now OSU standards. Every other program would think they hit the jackpot with a recruit like that
Caliendo was a mid level recruit at about mid 50’s in his class.
Their recruiting has improved, starting with Kem’s class, but is still not better than Tom Ryan’s, and now Robie at V tech, especially after we gifted him Bo and Melvin to add to his own top recruits. TNT just aren’t elite recruiters, which Carl and Taylor are, and that is the only way to catch them. They are both stockpiling blue chips, so even if they have a few misses, it won’t derail them.
They obviously can... they were the last ones outside of penn st to win one werent they? So they dont draw guys like Angelo and Spencer and Ayala... kueter.... so on?
He's a troll just put him on ignore. And if you choose not to then ask him why Mo was run out of Wisconsin? He's the only
I have on ignore
Penn State doesn't really do the "mid-level recruit" thing. They may sign a few, but they aren't actually anticipating those guys ever being anything more than room guys...they're never expected to actually wrestle any meaningful matches.
There is only one guy that started for Penn State this year that wasn't a certified blue-chipper coming out of high school and that's if you assume that the blue-chipper cut off is at 20 and not say top 50. Hell, they only have 3 guys in their starting lineup that weren't TOP 10 overall coming out of high school and only 1 guy that was ranked outside of the top 3 at their weight class.
Weight/Name/HS Grad Year/Big Board Rank/Weight Class Rank
125-Luke Lilledahl (2024) 1/1
133-Marcus Blaze (2025) 1/1
141-Braeden Davis (2023) 42/4
149-Shayne Van Ness (2021) 4/1
157-PJ Duke (2025) 2/1
165-Mitchell Mesenbrink (2022) 18/1
174-Levi Haines (2022) 9/1
184-Rocco Welsh (2023) 6/2
197-Josh Barr (2023) 7/3
285-Cole Mirasola (2024) 15/3
There are the only five guys that have been weight class starters for them over the last 5 seasons that weren't ranked in the top 50 overall coming out of high school...and 4 of them were transfers that had been on the podium prior to Penn State:
2024-2025
None
2023-2024
133-Aaron Nagao (2020) 69/11 (transfer)
184-Bernie Truax (2018) Unranked (transfer)
2022-2023
197-Max Dean (2016) 74/10 (transfer)
2021-2022
125-Drew Hildenbrandt (2016) Unranked (transfer)
197-Max Dean (2016) 74/10 (transfer)
165-Creighton Edsell (2018) Unranked
There is only one guy that started for Penn State this year that wasn't a certified blue-chipper coming out of high school and that's if you assume that the blue-chipper cut off is at 20 and not say top 50. Hell, they only have 3 guys in their starting lineup that weren't TOP 10 overall coming out of high school and only 1 guy that was ranked outside of the top 3 at their weight class.
Weight/Name/HS Grad Year/Big Board Rank/Weight Class Rank
125-Luke Lilledahl (2024) 1/1
133-Marcus Blaze (2025) 1/1
141-Braeden Davis (2023) 42/4
149-Shayne Van Ness (2021) 4/1
157-PJ Duke (2025) 2/1
165-Mitchell Mesenbrink (2022) 18/1
174-Levi Haines (2022) 9/1
184-Rocco Welsh (2023) 6/2
197-Josh Barr (2023) 7/3
285-Cole Mirasola (2024) 15/3
There are the only five guys that have been weight class starters for them over the last 5 seasons that weren't ranked in the top 50 overall coming out of high school...and 4 of them were transfers that had been on the podium prior to Penn State:
2024-2025
None
2023-2024
133-Aaron Nagao (2020) 69/11 (transfer)
184-Bernie Truax (2018) Unranked (transfer)
2022-2023
197-Max Dean (2016) 74/10 (transfer)
2021-2022
125-Drew Hildenbrandt (2016) Unranked (transfer)
197-Max Dean (2016) 74/10 (transfer)
165-Creighton Edsell (2018) Unranked
4 p4p or 7 p4p is a home run for any team…..even Penn StateThat’s only by PSU and now OSU standards. Every other program would think they hit the jackpot with a recruit like that
They aren't terrible recruiters just like they aren't terrible coaches. They just aren't good enough at either to compete for championships any longer.
The failure to capitalize on the early championship runs right when Cael was building up psu was a major missed opportunity, same with during/after the Lee years.
He's a troll just put him on ignore. And if you choose not to then ask him why Mo was run out of Wisconsin? He's the only
Please tell me me you don't think they are recruiting on DT's level right now. Wrestling has had a huge reset with DT going to Oklahoma State. This is the here and now and what happened five years ago might as well have been the 1990s. Everything has changed. Brands isn't winning another team title. Iowa will eventually but not with the current head coach. Post the poll. I'm guessing the vast majority of Iowa fans believe DT will win a title before Brands wins another.
Tyler Knox to the portal via Justin Basch
In wrestling I would consider 42 overall a mid-level recruit as well, especially for a top-tier program.
Correct. I love ISU and UNI but this is a big recruit for them but shouldn't be for Iowa. Iowa should get a couple top ten recruits every year.
Knox would be a huge score. Love Crookham but can really take the Big Ten schedule. If you want more scrambling, Knox is gold.
I agree. Crookham probably has more upside but he is an injury worry every time he takes the mat. Knox is very fun to watch.
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What would b a better portal pickup than this. Outside of the top 4 that arent leaving he’s the next guy. Seems a much safer bet than Crookham
Fine. Compare it to OSU in 2 years.
Jax
Ross
Raney1
Raney2
Merrill
Vega
Robideau
in 27 Villasenor
Yeah, you’re probably right. I’d personally rather have Crookham, but not many better options out there
Don't forget lockett and Ryder. OSU is stacked. VT is coming on strong too. Bonus points guys is key. PSU owns the bonus points at this time but DT will prioritize this too. The storm is coming.
I mean Crookham likely has more upside if healthy but what’s the likelihood of competing 2 big 10 seasons without injury
2 I believe would work out with Paul Kenny's eligibility as well
He should at least stop and pay us visit on his way out there.
Iowa has a great 2027 class coming in... Bo ****** up the recruiting for iowa more the past 2 yrs then Brands has... if he wasnt so up for wanting coaches to break the rules iowa would be right there in the mix if Bachmanns, Kenny's, and Borge would have still come with Bo... yeah DT is the new exciting coach that lots of talented young wrestlers will gravitate to... Cael is still cael... then whos the next best thing??? And who is replacing Brands that would bring in everyone over Taylor and Cael ???
Would certainly make me happy. I'll ask you, if you're choosing between the two, who would you choose?
Knox was 19-8 and got smashed by Drake for 5th. I think we aim higher. Crookham would be 2 steps up from Knox. Get him a bag.
Iowa’s 27 class is really good but I don’t think it’s filled with multi time champions or even even three and four time all Americans. The problem is that is what is needed to keep our spot in 3/4 place.
I feel most would agree the only worry about crookham is his injury history. Knox graduated from Stanford in 3 years more time with less academic constraints might take a step up just my opinion
The injuries are definitely concerning with Crookham. Hawks have been down that road and I would be concerned whether he could hold up to the B10 schedule for sure.
Funny but Knox will probably come into the season ranked 2 behind Davino when Blaze and Seidel move up to 41. If Jax stays at 33 then he is preseason #3. Silly to not entertain the idea of getting Knox. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if Crookham wants to go 41 next year. He’s a huge 33 pounder and I’m sure a lot of injuries are a result of the weight cut.
I say get them both, Knox for 33 and Crookham for 41 and redshirt Bailey.
I’d prefer Bailey drop back down to 133 and wrestle off Crookham for the spot and Stanich at 141
Nothing says success quite like dropping down a weight from the one you’re lunging out at.