Rutgers guy going back to Rutgers.
Lee, assuming we don't get Wyatt H, who do you think starter is at 285? I think Merrill wins ranking match with Doucet but think they are going to redsirt Merrill no matter what.
Also, how do you see Carroll at 197 and Hughes at 133 doing in 2024-2025? Will be interesting to see Carroll at 197. Will be short, but so much stonger than most other 197 guys. He has mainly been freestyle guy, so will be interesting to see haw he adapts. I could see him win it all. But I am a homer.
Hughes we will see be got to be in top 6 IMO.
1) I think it's between OSU and Mizzou for Hendrickson. Wouldn't count us out by any means, but Mizzou is going to make a compelling pitch.
2) I think Doucet is going to be the guy at 285, if no Hendrickson. Funny thing about KD is he is really athletic and really smart. In the room, he's great. He beat Carroll fair and square in ranking matches. I think it would be more of the same for Merrill. Doucet has crafty quickness and is really good on top, so he really makes young guys pay for their mistakes. If he could just turn this on on the mat when it matters, he would be a podium contender.
3) We just watched Christian Carroll outhorse Ryan Warner and Tony Cassioppi... grown ass men. One a 5x AA at 197, one that was a 3x AA at heavyweight. Those guys are legit good wrestlers and very strong... and Carroll beat them with his brute strength. If Carroll is ok on bottom and on the mat, I think he will be a force even in a stacked 197.
4) Hughes is going to be solid and 133 is wide open. I think he's every bit as good as Frost from Iowa State or Ragusin from Michigan.
If this is your lineup....
125 - Spratley (Top 6. Beat the champ. Right there with the runner up. All around solid.)
133 - Hughes (I think he's an AA guy.)
141 - Jamison / Young (I like both guys here. Both have it. May the best man win.)
149 - Williams (has about the highest ceiling on the team from a talent perspective. If he can keep his head straight and keep his focus he will go as far as he wants to at this weight.)
157 - Travis (probably a round of 16 guy. Get 4-5 points at NCAAs and we'll call it great.)
165 - Fish (has pretty much been an R12 guy. Will being in a good room help him jump a level? Possible.)
174 - Hamiti (top 3 guy. No question. Good in all positions. Get him at the right weight and he could be great.)
184 - Plott (finalists. There's Keckisen -> Plott -> Everybody else and Plott proved that all season.)
197 - Carroll (I think he will AA like Hughes. 197 is pretty stacked though.)
285 - Doucet (as mentioned I think he could make the podium but if he makes R12 and gets 4 points that's fine.)
I think worst case you're looking at 5 AAs for OSU with two finalists. That should get OSU into 2nd place.