Transfer Portal Update (5/18/2024)

With the conclusion of the NCAA wrestling tournament and the calendar changing over to May, you’d think that it means it’s the offseason for college wrestling and all focus should turn to the Olympic styles, right? Maybe in the past, but in a new era of collegiate athletics, once the final whistle has blown on a particular postseason, it means it’s time to turn your attention to the transfer portal. 

Love it or hate it, it’s the reality. Student-athletes have the ability to transfer much more freely than past generations. Couple that with the extra year of eligibility doled out by the NCAA in the aftermath of the COVID years and you have a wild combination. There was lots of movement last “offseason” and I don’t foresee that changing this year. 

In the almost two months since the NCAA finals, there have already been some huge names that have gone into the portal. Some have already announced their new homes, while others are still being courted. 

The first list of wrestlers we’ve listed have already publicly committed to a new transfer destination. That new school is listed first, along with their projected weight, followed by their former school. 

Below them are notable wrestlers that have gone into the transfer portal. It is not a comprehensive list. 

Expect many updates to this feature in the coming weeks and months. 

Brown: Jacob Joyce (125) - Stanford

Cal Poly: Joel Jesuroga (149) - Iowa

Cal Poly: Korbin Shepherd (133/141) - Missouri

Chattanooga: Connor Strong (184) - Penn

Edinboro: Colton Camacho (125/133) - Pittsburgh

Edinboro: Ryan Michaels (149) - Pittsburgh

Edinboro: Cheaney Schoeff (133) - Indiana

Franklin & Marshall: Michael Duggan (157) - Bloomsburg

Illinois: Ramazan Attasauov (125/133) - Iowa State

Illinois: Jason Kraisser (157) - Iowa State

Illinois: Danny Nini (157) - North Carolina

Indiana: Logan Frazier (133) - Virginia Tech

Indiana: Angelo Rini (133) - Columbia

Iowa State: Evan Bockman (197) - Utah Valley

Lehigh: Rylan Rogers (174/184) - Michigan

Little Rock: Branson Britten (184) - Northern Colorado

Little Rock: Brock DelSignore (184) - NC State

Little Rock: Jaivon Jones (149) - Northern Illinois

Lock Haven: James Lledo (184) - Pittsburgh

Lock Haven: Nick Stampoulos (157) - Buffalo

Michigan: Jacob Cardenas (197) - Cornell

Michigan: Chase Saldate (157) - Michigan State

Michigan State: Jay Nivison (174) - Buffalo

Minnesota: Tommy Askey (157) - Appalachian State

Minnesota: Cooper Flynn (125) - Virginia Tech

Minnesota: Clayton Whiting (174/184) - Missouri

Morgan State: Xavier Doolin (285) - Northern Colorado

Morgan State: Darrien Roberts (184) - Oklahoma

North Carolina: Ryan Boersma (285) - Missouri

North Carolina: Nolan Neves (285) - Columbia

North Carolina: Ethan Oakley (133) - Appalachian State

North Carolina: Josh Ogunsanya (174) - North Carolina

North Dakota State: Kyle Burwick (133) - Nebraska

North Dakota State: Peyton Moore (133) - Missouri

North Dakota State: Devin Wasley (184) - Minnesota

Northern Colorado: Clayton Ulrey (157/165) - Virginia Tech

Northern Illinois: Markel Baker (125/133) - George Mason

Northern Illinois: Spencer Mooberry (197) - North Dakota State

Oklahoma: Fernando Barreto (133) - North Dakota State

Oklahoma: Cleveland Belton (141) - Oregon State

Oklahoma: Gaven Sax (174) - North Dakota State

Oklahoma: Carter Schubert (165) - California Baptist

Oklahoma State: Caleb Fish (165) - Michigan State

Oklahoma State: Dean Hamiti (165/174) - Wisconsin

Oregon State: Sean Harman (174) - Missouri

Pittsburgh: Nick Babin (125) - Columbia

Pittsburgh: Chase Kranitz (184) - Buffalo

Pittsburgh: Evan Tallmadge (125) - Navy

Rider: Sammy Alvarez (149) - Oklahoma State

Rutgers: Dagen Condomitti (157) - Oregon State

SIU Edwardsville: Ben Lunn (141) - Minnesota

SIU Edwardsville: Luke Odom (157) - Illinois

SIU Edwardsville: Griffin Ray (165) - Nebraska

Utah Valley: Tanner Frothinger (141) - Nebraska

Virginia Tech: Connor McGonagle (133) - Lehigh

Virginia Tech: Lennox Wolak (174) - Columbia

West Virginia: Tommy Maddox (133) - Buffalo

Wisconsin: Wyatt Skebba (125) - Central Michigan

Wyoming: Sam Mitchell (197) - Buffalo
 

This last week was unusual compared to previous ones on the transfer front. The portal has closed for the season, so there will be no more new entries unless there’s a head coaching change. Also, there weren’t any huge names that made their transfer intentions known; however, there was a lot of movement. 

Some of the highlights include:

Jacob Joyce is a part of a rare Ivy League transfer. He comes to Brown from Stanford. 

Speaking of Ivy Leaguers, Connor Strong will join the Chattanooga program as a grad transfer from Penn. Strong was not a starter for the Quakers, but he did post a 12-3 record in 2022-23. 

Edinboro continues to revamp its lower weights with the addition of Cheaney Schoeff from Indiana.

Illinois has done a good job at filling potential holes in their lineup. Danny Nini is the latest addition. He presumably competes with fellow transfer Jason Kraisser for the starting role at 157 lbs. 

Lehigh will add Rylan Rogers. In 2022, Rogers was the #11 overall recruit in the nation. He was injured for a portion of the 2023-24 season and then was unable to unseat Jaden Bullock in the Michigan starting lineup. 

Little Rock gets a solid, under-the-radar pickup, in Jaivon Jones from Northern Illinois. Jones has always been solid for the Huskies, posting winning records, but wasn’t able to get over the hump and qualify for nationals. 

Michigan State picks up former national qualifier Jay Nivison from Buffalo. 

North Carolina continues to add transfers. Their lineup could look much different from its 2023-24 iteration. The latest is heavyweight Nolan Neves a graduate transfer from Columbia. He’ll join Lion teammate Joshua Ogunsanya in Carolina Blue. 

There’s been a lot of movement regarding North Dakota State. They had a couple of pickups, most notably national qualifier Kyle Burwick, who comes back to his home state. 

Oklahoma is another team that will have a relatively new look in 2024-25. They upgraded at 133 and 141 lbs with the addition of Fernando Barreto and Cleveland Belton, respectively. Belton is likely the most notable name in this round of updates. He is a two-time national qualifier that advanced to the NCAA Round of 12 in 2024. At NCAA's, he scored wins over former Sooner Mitch Moore, Danny Pucino (Illinois), and Danny Fongaro (Indiana). 

New Utah Valley head coach Adam Hall got a transfer from the Big Ten in Tanner Frothinger. While redshirting at Nebraska, Frothinger amassed a 13-5 total record; however, he was 0-2 against DI competition. 

Technically, they don’t count as moves or transfers, but a special note should be made in favor of new Buffalo head coach Donnie Vinson. Max Elton (125) and Sam Ewing (133), both announced they would be transferring during the Bulls coaching transition and even committed to new schools. Since then, both have decided to stay in Buffalo. 

Portal

Andrew Alirez (141) - Northern Colorado

Cam Amine (165) - Michigan

Cade Balestrini (149) - Bloomsburg

Kaleb Burgess (149) - Buffalo

Charlie Darracott (165) - Stanford

Devon Dawson (285) - North Dakota State

Massoma Endene (197) - Wartburg

Max Hale (184) - Penn 

Wyatt Hendrickson (285) - Air Force

Nathan Higley (149) - George Mason

Jared Hill (157) - Oklahoma

Hunter Mays (165) - Lehigh

Peter Ming (285) - Stanford

Jack Nies (149) - American

Kyle Parco (149)  - Arizona State

Isaiah Powe (141) - Chattanooga

Bretli Reyna (149) - Iowa

Chris Rivera (141) - Campbell

Justin Rivera (149) - Campbell

Ethan Stiles (157) - Nebraska