I think JJ is as good a recruit as we have had. I have little doubt he will be a multi time champ. However he is still very young genetically, undersized for 174, and at inexperienced at NCAA level folk. I am 100% in on the gray shirt. Even with solid weight gain he will be wrestling guys walking around in their mid 180s.
If he doesn't skip a year, there is still a very good chance he doesn't even start, despite those anointing him am immediate finalist or better.
I agree he is more talented than Henkle, but that's not a guarantee of a true freshman wrestleoff victory, and against Mitchell or PJ I honestly don't think he has a chance, let alone Levi if that comes to pass.
Although DT just did something Cael never did in making multiple freshman/true freshman national champs in the same year look easy, and yep I think he will do it again this year with Ross, it ain't easy by any stretch.
Just ask Zain, Bo, Jason, Luke, PJ, Mitchell, Nick, RBY, and our list goes on .... Sure we have Cenzo, Aaron and Carter, but on balance a blue chip 'true' freshman national champ is more of an outlier than a reality.
Oh then there is that nasty reality, we don't need him this season ... at all!!! In fact his going exacerbates and already difficult lineup problem. Burning 1 year makes little sense unless he is insistent on doing so, and if that is his desire go for it. My bet is he doesn't start.
I have little doubt JJ will be well postponed to win 4 straight starting in 2027, but this coming season is not one of them.