OSU at Air Force

[MustangPokeFan]

Starters looked extremely dominant. If we’d have had all 10 starters it would have been in the range of 40 something to nothing. The match started with Dee Lockett who got the pin. The 5 heavier weight matches were all starters and all bonus point wins. Doucet continues to look like the most improved wrestler in the country. We wrestled all backups at the 5 lighter weights and it was a struggle, losing two of the matches. Two things were obvious, first that our starters are elite and can wrestle with anyone and second was that the biggest difference in us and Penn State is the dramatic dropoff from our starters to our second string. PSU’s second string are largely plug n play while ours are a drastic dropoff in talent. With next years recruiting class that should change that depth issue, but for this year our end result depends heavily on starters staying healthy!

 

[MJM]

I agree with your comments re 165 to 285 looking great. Not sure I agree with your rest of your comments. Steen at 126 was a Penn St. backup.

Really at 126, 141, 149, and 157 we wrestled our 3rd string. The true freshman at 157 looked pretty good. He may actually start at some point. Sheets looked OK at 149, but I can't see him ever starting. The guys at 126 and 141 did not look so good. The 126 guy was transfer from Penn St and is a senior. The guy at 141 is a redshirt freshman and a mid tier recruit. One match, but didn't look good.

Fig at 133 did not look good. Former national champ. And he was supposed to be a starter. Shows 133 and 149 are key weak spots.

To me the biggest difference between us and Penn State is they have had top recruiting classes for years and can put a top guy at every weight class. Lockett, Vega, and Robideau were in Taylor's first recruiting class, top 10 recruits nationally. We have 4 top 10 guys coming in next year. Maybe next year, or year after, we will have top recruit at every weight class. When we do, then we will be like Penn State, who can start a top 10 recruit at every weight class.