AJ Ferrari commits to Nebraska: How Huskers potentially line up in 2025-26

Now that AJ Ferrari is coming to Nebraska, following his commitment Saturday, the Huskers have a loaded lineup on paper once again. With a second place NCAA Tournament finish in 2025, Nebraska is coming for the top next season.

As always, it’ll be a challenge to dethrone Penn State, but Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma State and others want to make it as difficult as possible. The addition of Ferrari certainly gives Nebraska one of the best lineups going into next season.

In total, Nebraska will return seven All-Americans in next year’s lineup, including 157 NCAA champion Antrell Taylor. Here’s a look at the lineup as it stands in June.

125: Kael Lauridsen, RS-Fr.
133: Jacob Van Dee, Jr.
141: Brock Hardy, Sr.
149: Chance Lamer, Sr. (Cal Poly transfer)
157: Antrell Taylor, Jr.
165: Christopher Minto, So.
174: LJ Araujo, RS-Fr.
184: Silas Allred, Sr.
197: Camden McDanel, So./AJ Ferrari, Jr. (Cal State Bakersfield transfer)
285: Harley Andrews, Jr./AJ Ferrari, Jr. (Cal State Bakersfield transfer)

Now the question is if Ferrari will go 197 once again, where he won the 2021 NCAA title and finished 3rd in 2025, or move up to heavyweight. The two-time All-American walks around at 235 pounds, making it a big cut to go down.

If Ferrari goes 197, one could assume he stays there for one season while McDanel redshirts after finishing 8th as a true freshman. Then, Ferrari would move up to heavyweight for his senior year, potentially bumping Andrews out of the lineup.

However, Ferrari could go heavyweight this season, saving a redshirt year for McDanel for future use if need be, while Andrews is bumped out of the lineup this year. Presumably, Ferrari is going to be plugged into either spot this winter.

Lauridsen is projected to go at 125, replacing the outgoing Caleb Smith, Lamer comes in as a transfer to replace NCAA champ Ridge Lovett and Araujo replaces Lenny Pinto, who transferred to Rutgers. Otherwise, Nebraska runs it back with All-Americans, a finalist in Hardy and champions Taylor and Ferrari.

“You know, a lot of people would just rush and go chase the big dollar signs and just rush towards getting the biggest deal money wise,” Ferrari said on FloWrestling. “But for me, it was bigger than any type of monetary value. It was a camaraderie of people where I feel like I fit in. I like the coaching staff. They’re Christians, they’re God fearing men, and I know that this team will be a team where I will be able to be in the future, and I will be able to fit in and be like minded with the same type of mindset, trying to chase a mind like Christ.”