Hillbilly Jim

does his mean Blockhus will be up at 157?

Yeah--we get your point. You made a post to bash the program. I am not an OK ST guy. But geez--get a life dude.

What about Gilcher at Michigan—is he another 149 true freshman that could get the starting nod?

Will Kannon Webster get the starting nod at IL?

Really wish we coulda got to see him vs. Sasso. Doesn’t sound like that will happen now.

Continuing on the theme of projected rosters in the Big 10, Tom Ryan also confirmed rumors of Sasso going up to 157. Sounds like the projected lineup looks like this: 125: Brendan McCrone/Andre Gonzales/Vinny Kilkeary 133: Nic Bouzakis 141: Jesse Mendez/Jordan Decatur 149: Dylan D’Emilio 157: Sammy Sasso 165: Bryce Hepner/Paddy Gallagher 174: Carson Kharchla 184: Seth Shumate/Luke Geog 197: Gavin Hoffman/Luke Geog 285: Nick Feldman So, still lots of questions: 1) Is Kilkeary ready and who gets the nod at 125; 2) Is Jesse gonna redshirt (I am doubting it)? 3) Who emerges as the guy at 165 (I would think Hepner)? 4) Which weight is Geog gonna fit in? Obviously depends on if he beats out Hoffman--do folks think he will? As always--look forward to folks' thoughts!

I don’t think there is much question that he is technically ready based on his body of work. But he may want another year to develop physically—Big 10 is no joke for a freshman. I would think 157 might be a challenge for him though—he has a very big frame.

Good question. He isn’t listed on Purdue’s roster in Wrestlestat—but Flo’s transfer tracker has him transferred to Purdue.

I saw a Flo interview of Ersland. Sounds like there is potential for Blaze to go as a true freshman--any Purdue fans think this is the case or just motivational tactic? In any event--the lineup sounded potentially like this: 125 Ramos 133 Norris 141 White 149 Polanco 157 Blaze? Law? 165 Buell 174 Baumann 184 Rowley 197 Vanadia 285 Copass

Well the guy can coach--I think that has been proven. Maybe the roster actually helps them recruiting-wise? In these days of the transfer portal, young guys commit to high end programs, only to get recruited over with the portal on larger rosters that have room. A kid that goes here knows they are limited in that capacity and the path to starting may be more viable. With the coach thing, I can't speak to the specifics there--maybe a NU expert can shed some light for us. But assistant coaches move around a lot and certainly the COVID thing played into that here. From my view, the big issue for them was losing those 3 guys to Michigan for fat NIL deals. Without that--I am thinking they were gonna be Top 10 type team and no one would be wondering about any other issues.

Well—I’m not a Northwestern guy and don't profess know a ton about the program--but I will get to know them and I am intrigued how coaches outside the blue chip programs (PSU, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio St., etc) adjust to the changing college wrestling landscape. Let me be clear—I don’t blame this Johnson kid at all. Nor do I blame the three transfers for their decisions. I totally understand their decisions. All I am saying is that it isn’t Storniolo’s fault that there was widespread hazing in the football program—that Fitzgerald was fired for it and Storniolo loses his prize dual sport recruit. And it comes on the heels of the transfer debacle, making it another big blow to a team that carries a small roster. And so, by all accounts, I have heard the three transfers are leaving NW on good terms and thankful for what the program did for them. They just got offered a bag of money from the new NIL rules that may be crippling to a program like NW. Again—I do not blame these kids at all. But Storniolo coached those three kids to be AAs. I am sure he put his heart into getting them there and on the podium--which ironically is what got them the money and caused them to leave. When they left in like April (?) he seemed to be left high and dry. It has to be next to impossible to find transfers or 2023 recruits that can meet the rigorous NW academic standards and be capable of credibly filling AA shoes at that late date. Again--circumstances beyond his control. So his program is now faced with taking a public beating in the brutal Big 10. A program that has actually done very well under his watch for the last 5 years or so. And it is not because he hasn’t done his job well or he has mistreated kids, or allowed anything bad to go on in his program (at least not to my knowledge). Seems like a good coach that is a bit of a victim of circumstances here. His program was crippled through no fault of his own. So yeah, I will say he didn't deserve this. I guess that’s my view.

Unreal. He didn't deserve this. You look at his track record and it is clear the guy can flat out coach. With his repeated success at developing talent and the elite level education--I am guessing he will not have too much trouble reloading? But man it is gonna be VERY rough sledding this season! Unless something changes fast, they are looking at true freshmen (not one) hitting the lineup? Gulp.

This looks right to me except maybe Siebricht will cut to 149 if he feels he can get that spot.

My point exactly.

Maybe so--but at what price I am not so sure? Yes, when you have wrestler who is clearly better--you can see more TFs. My concern is the good matches--the evenly matched guys. The matches we really want to see. I have a feeling in those marquee close matches we all love--when a guy gets a 1st period takedown he is gonna go into a shell and try to win 3-2. I fear we will see a whole lotta neutral stalling in big matches. I liked the fact with 2 pt takedowns, the guy with a lead can't as easily go into the deep freezer--unfortunately I am not sure the new 3 pt TD rule is gonna encourage more action in tight matches at all.

Please don’t mock me for asking, but why don’t kids have to commit more to a school when they get scholarship money? I am sure it would not be allowed, but I wish that when kids sign on to school it was like a 4 year contract with out clauses for extenuating circumstances. Or at least some restrictions like if you leave you have to give back your scholarship money…..

"Top guy now has to work for near fall, he can no longer just ride and try and breakdown their opponent." Curious how this one will be interpreted and applied in matches. Will top be more like high school where you only get hit if you are stall riding and they let you ride for extended periods of time if you are working OR you can only work for a while but if you can't score you will get dinged?

I agree with that. But it sure looks like the duals season is gonna be tough sledding. 125, 133, 149, 285...oh boy. Gonna see some true freshmen in there at some of those weights, no? Maybe they convince the Benjamin kid to stay?

OUCH. They did get a nice recruit from 2024 class in Dillion Johnson though....

I understand that--but I love to hear any deeper insights from teams' hardcore fans....

https://rokfin.com/article/13540/Morton-Brothers-Commit-to-California-Baptist-#:~:text=Morton Brothers Commit to California Baptist

Agreed. Better question on this board is which college newcomers will make starting lineup and which ones make a greater than expected impact right out of the gate? Obviously most will redshirt. And likely Shapiro and Chittum around the top of that list.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears Nebraska is pretty straightforward just looking at WrestleStat. Maybe the VanDee kid from PA can make it interesting at 133? That leaves just Indiana and Northwestern and I know that they have question marks. Don't leave me hanging gents....

That is the nice little nugget I am looking for from the team experts. I would have guessed Blaze to beat Stoney. Either way—those are good problems to have with those two battling in the room for years to come. Nice young group forming there for Purdue—Norris, Clark, Blaze, Buell, Rowley, etc.

OK--getting closer. Any and all analysis is appreciated. Still got 4 lineup breakdowns to go: Purdue Nebraska Indiana Northwestern