Zain registering at 70kg may have also impacted his decision
EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions
- Thread starter backdrft76-1
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He was going 74 the whole time. Zain didn't decide until after the open
It’s bc he was granted a bonus year and we dunno if the 4xer In the past coulda gotten a 5th as well with an extra year. I think as time goes on w 5 for 5 and people realizing how hard it is his legend will continue to grow.
Well 5 for 5 may really screw us, making an already crowded lineup critically impacted while arguably a gift to OSU, with 3 freshman national champs that can try to follow Carter's path to a five year career & associated glory. Don't hold your breath there.
I think James today has reinforced not only how great he is, but how ready he is today. Sorry folks but with 5 for 5 noone is sitting willingly, so let the chaos reign down on us all whike the coache's hands are now firmly tied behind their backs.
Kasak's injury concerns probably has many thinking it really could be James going 157 this year. I am there.
It also seems that Cael may just ask Mitchell to go up. I wouldn't be thrilled with PJ jumping two weights in one year, but maybe it happens, better it be MM
This the ugly truth is it's looking to me like James, PJ, Mitchell 157-174 is the no brainer, thus I really think we have a significant risk of losing Kasak, Sealy and Henkle to the portal next year.
5 for 5 may not play well with our lower weights in a couple of years. We might be looking at an adjustment 2-3 years down the road when the NCAA sees the result is far more portal activity, and a lot of kids with early season injuries screwed out of a year of eligibility, and teams with far fewer legit backups to fill the gap
5 for 4 is IMO much better for the coaches in terms of flexibility and keeping legit backups on the squad, much better for the kids giving them time to develop and career protection for injuries.
Zero doubt cascading redshirts were getting way out of hand (AJ Ferrari for one example), but keeping the option of 1 shirt year to be consumed by either greyshirt, redshirt, injury blueshirt or an Olympic shirt makes a lot more sense. 4 different justifications but only 1 year total, the original root problem is solved.
Maybe it's just me, but I only want to see the best get 4 years and move on to free. Let the next generation get a shot.
No doubt Cael will master the strategy in time, but if it passes as expected here in a week or so, it will hurt our squad's multi year lineup strategy maybe more than any other team for the next year or two despite our dominance.
I think James today has reinforced not only how great he is, but how ready he is today. Sorry folks but with 5 for 5 noone is sitting willingly, so let the chaos reign down on us all whike the coache's hands are now firmly tied behind their backs.
Kasak's injury concerns probably has many thinking it really could be James going 157 this year. I am there.
It also seems that Cael may just ask Mitchell to go up. I wouldn't be thrilled with PJ jumping two weights in one year, but maybe it happens, better it be MM
This the ugly truth is it's looking to me like James, PJ, Mitchell 157-174 is the no brainer, thus I really think we have a significant risk of losing Kasak, Sealy and Henkle to the portal next year.
5 for 5 may not play well with our lower weights in a couple of years. We might be looking at an adjustment 2-3 years down the road when the NCAA sees the result is far more portal activity, and a lot of kids with early season injuries screwed out of a year of eligibility, and teams with far fewer legit backups to fill the gap
5 for 4 is IMO much better for the coaches in terms of flexibility and keeping legit backups on the squad, much better for the kids giving them time to develop and career protection for injuries.
Zero doubt cascading redshirts were getting way out of hand (AJ Ferrari for one example), but keeping the option of 1 shirt year to be consumed by either greyshirt, redshirt, injury blueshirt or an Olympic shirt makes a lot more sense. 4 different justifications but only 1 year total, the original root problem is solved.
Maybe it's just me, but I only want to see the best get 4 years and move on to free. Let the next generation get a shot.
No doubt Cael will master the strategy in time, but if it passes as expected here in a week or so, it will hurt our squad's multi year lineup strategy maybe more than any other team for the next year or two despite our dominance.
I think cael and other coaches may still recruit kids with the 4 years of wrestling in mind and that the first year is development. God forbid a kid gets hurt and tries to wrestle through so they don't use a year of eligibility. This whole thing is a train wreck. Why not keep it 4 in 5 and raise the age one year
Same thought process delivered us the 3 point takedown to put an end to neutral stalling.
Yes You nailed it!
5 for 4 makes more sense. Benefits both the wrestlers and the coaches and the overall team concept.
Hmmm there is a waiver for military service and religious missions correct? I was in delayed entry out of State College for almost a year. What if during that yearish a recruit were to train at a nearby club...then before going to boot camp somehow magically received a ROTC scholarship to PSU, deferrred the enlisted contract and enrolled in school the following year....chess not checkers.
Cael and Taylor knew 5 for 5 was at least a very distinct possibility and probably played a part in their decision to wrestle their good freshmen the past year. I know it was mentioned when rumors of Jax wrestling started early in year.
Henckel keeps getting mentioned but under the old system his path after this year to make the lineup wasn’t clear as he was probably going to have to deal with either Duke or James.
PSU gets Luke another year, is Ono impacted?
Black Knight Invite might be very interesting
Henckel keeps getting mentioned but under the old system his path after this year to make the lineup wasn’t clear as he was probably going to have to deal with either Duke or James.
PSU gets Luke another year, is Ono impacted?
Black Knight Invite might be very interesting
Desmond is another kid likely negatively impacted this year. He was the presumed starter at 141, with Ono doing his stint at 133. I think it's pretty reasonable to assume Blaze (or Ono) now beats Desmond for the 141 spot this year,
This also means instead of redshirting while staying close to 133 weight wise for the following year, Blaze may have to gain good weight for 141, which might make it pretty challenging to get back to 133 the following, so Luke probably moves up in two years. Maybe he would have anyway.
Could Ono target 141 instead now, and Blaze goes again at 133? Ono made the most sense at 133 before 5 for 5, but after, maybe not. What a mess.
Back to Desmond, his only path might be to burn a year this year, and grow into a 149 to replace SVN, and only get 3 years. If he doesn't wrestle this year, portal or not, that is what he is stuck with everywhere.
Maybe Cael can pull his Zen magic and get complete hammers like PJ, Marcus, and James to be satisfied with wrestling only 4 years. That's a tough ask, but it's the path that keeps team harmony somewhat intact. Who knows, if Cael were to say , 'we sit all kids 1 year no matter what', maybe that would work, but then any injury lurks like goblin waiting to knock a kid down to a 3 year career.
There is no doubt the OSU, tOSU, VT, Iowa vultures will be circling the portal next cycle with a keen eye on our squad. Wouldn't it suck, if some day in the future we lose a team championship by a point or two and the team that beats us had a few of our cast offs to fill gaps on their roster. Kids that only left because of the negative impact of 5 for 5. Indirectly our recruiting becomes a crutch for other teams. I expect not as much, but from time to time it will work in the other direction.
Sorry, 5 for 4 is much better.
This also means instead of redshirting while staying close to 133 weight wise for the following year, Blaze may have to gain good weight for 141, which might make it pretty challenging to get back to 133 the following, so Luke probably moves up in two years. Maybe he would have anyway.
Could Ono target 141 instead now, and Blaze goes again at 133? Ono made the most sense at 133 before 5 for 5, but after, maybe not. What a mess.
Back to Desmond, his only path might be to burn a year this year, and grow into a 149 to replace SVN, and only get 3 years. If he doesn't wrestle this year, portal or not, that is what he is stuck with everywhere.
Maybe Cael can pull his Zen magic and get complete hammers like PJ, Marcus, and James to be satisfied with wrestling only 4 years. That's a tough ask, but it's the path that keeps team harmony somewhat intact. Who knows, if Cael were to say , 'we sit all kids 1 year no matter what', maybe that would work, but then any injury lurks like goblin waiting to knock a kid down to a 3 year career.
There is no doubt the OSU, tOSU, VT, Iowa vultures will be circling the portal next cycle with a keen eye on our squad. Wouldn't it suck, if some day in the future we lose a team championship by a point or two and the team that beats us had a few of our cast offs to fill gaps on their roster. Kids that only left because of the negative impact of 5 for 5. Indirectly our recruiting becomes a crutch for other teams. I expect not as much, but from time to time it will work in the other direction.
Sorry, 5 for 4 is much better.
Oklahoma State has the same problem - just at different weights. May be worse for them as their recruiting is less layered than ours is due to having to really stock up with huge classes the last 2 years
OkSt is going to have the same issue starting next season. Their lightweights are similar to our middleweights. A couple really really good guys will be on the bench. Will they lose someone like the Raneys or will guys stick around because the training environment is great and suits them?
If guys were willing to stay losing a year or 2 when they only got 4 years why would they leave when they now get 5
Perhaps I missed it, but has there been any discussion from the NCAA about opening up a new transfer portal window for guys to vacate that feel they may be negatively impacted by this errant decision?
Ohio State about to see the downside to all of those Recruiting National Championships.
Odd, maybe, but I like when Cael is challenged by curveballs. The portal/NIL marriage, juggling elite wrestlers at similar weights, this 5-for-5 policy, etc... As in hiking, a change or surprise in the terrain makes the journey more interesting and outcome more rewarding. For a competitor like Cael, I gotta believe any challenge not only keeps him engaged, but may also be welcomed.
Perhaps one bright side to the 5 for 5 is the elimination of the unending speculation on our board about our hammers redshirting. Imagine how much time we save not having to read posts about why PJ and Marcus should redshirt 
You are so worried about Desmond and Henckel you would like to see Carl persuade Marcus, PJ, and James to sit? He’s not going to say a word to someone like James, he was a V Tech flip. Imagine getting him to think he would look nice in that lineup
its extremely tough to crack the PSU lineup. Sealey and Connor Mirasola in same boat, it happens.
Some rumors that DT don't want them wrestling Greco Roman anymore either (smart move)
Cael will handle 5 for 5 how he handled everything else: Recruit kids who don't need to be sold on the program and let them settle it. You don't move your best guys around or redshirt them to let others get their ideal weights. The rest will always fall into place. With the exception of 2010 and 2015 where a total punt made sense, it's always been wrestle the best guys if they are ready.
Perfect example was 2025, initially after NCAAs, we should 157 to 174 would be
Mesenbrink, Levi, Facundo (Kasak RS) Mitch said he would go down for Levi.
Then we should it would be Josh at 184 and Carter at 197
When it became apparent Carter wasn't going to get big enough for 197, him and Josh shifted weight and Mitch stayed at his ideal weight and Levi went 174 undersized first year. Facundo ended up making a massive cut to 157 and Kasak never redshirted.
Consistent theme there? Best guys stayed ideal weights. Everyone else figures it out, eventually it works out.
Perfect example was 2025, initially after NCAAs, we should 157 to 174 would be
Mesenbrink, Levi, Facundo (Kasak RS) Mitch said he would go down for Levi.
Then we should it would be Josh at 184 and Carter at 197
When it became apparent Carter wasn't going to get big enough for 197, him and Josh shifted weight and Mitch stayed at his ideal weight and Levi went 174 undersized first year. Facundo ended up making a massive cut to 157 and Kasak never redshirted.
Consistent theme there? Best guys stayed ideal weights. Everyone else figures it out, eventually it works out.
Something to consider, wouldn’t be a shock if a lot of these kids don’t want to wrestle 5 seasons. Could still see a scenario where 4 years is the norm. The season is a grind especially for kids with freestyle aspirations. Strategic use of an off year could become commonplace.
Trying to apply logic to a Googles post is an exercise in futility 83% of the time.
If history has taught us anything it will not dissuade him from crafting a 1250-word, inane take on a beaten-to-death topic in the future.
My thoughts exactly. Im thinking carl tells kids you come in and wrestle one year at nlwc and then four years at nattys
Im hoping all these hammers go to cambell or uni or wyoming. That will improve competition at nationals for sure
Pretty sure this already happened. They were registered for the open and reportedly showed up but then didn’t compete. On FRL afterwards they said that the Raneys are done with Greco for the foreseeable future. They made it sound like the Raneys decision but I would think DT had a lot to do with it. It is smart for OkSt and the Raneys folk career but they could both win a bunch of medals on the world stage in greco
I answered it and it's no. Basketball wants one but it's sounding like that's not gonna happen
Sounds like a court battle waiting to happen. Must have to be clueless to get hired by the ncaa ffs