2025 Transfer Portal

[1032004]

40 minutes ago, Masonbuckeye said:

He also was done a little dirty by being Redshirted this year after being a returning finalist. It became obvious Sasso was never better than Cannon this season yet they threw out Sasso because of seniority. Same thing could’ve happened with Carson and they might not have made the switch because Carson had been wrestling well all year.

Cannon was hurt in the beginning of the year, I don’t think it took them long once he came back to go with him over Sasso.

I don’t know what happened with Welsh.  I know someone said earlier Ryan stated he could have competed for a starting spot, but maybe he said only at 184 and not 174?

[1032004]

1 hour ago, BAC said:

Kinda funny that the Iowa people have been trashing PSU for sneakily poaching Welsh from Ohio State when they weren't looking, that they're the Lance Armstrong of wrestling, blah blah blah.  A few days later, a couple truths come out.

1. Welsh confirms that his PSU contact was only after entering the portal, and is something he'd wanted for a long time beforehand since he wanted better practice partners than tOSU was able to give him. Also confirms PSU was never a done deal (but was one of a couple that HE was targeting since, after all, it was all about getting better partners), that he'd fielded numerous far-more-lucrative cash offers from other schools, but instead chose PSU with its small NIL collective for the strength of its room, in a decision made only yesterday.  

2. Iowa shells out the bucks to pluck not one but TWO starters from tiny Little Rock, which is sort of like Elon Musk mugging a homeless man to steal his shoes.

Queue the jokes about "lolz oh yeah I'm SURE they just wanna be in State College lololol."

Except... yeah, they just really wanna be in State College.  At least Rocco does. 

You can accuse PSU of poaching, but to do so, you need to call Rocco a liar.  I'm not willing to do that.

I'm anti-poaching, and I'd be on PSU's case if they were chasing down Rocco to enter the portal and throwing lots of money at him to displace Ryder.  But I also do NOT think any coach should have to say "No, you are not welcome here" if they come banging on your door and saying they want to compete for a spot.  This sounds more like the latter.

Meanwhile, Iowa's reverse-Robin-Hood act continues, robbing from the poor so the rich can get richer.  Hey, maybe you can get Steven Little too, and get Little Rock's program cancelled entirely? 

Small NIL collective lol.  I’m confident PSU pays very well in general, although I’d believe it if they didn’t offer Welsh in particular a whole lot since they don’t really need him.

[Mr. PeanutButter]

30 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

Didn't he get the same finish?

C'mon brother you know the NCAA finish could be similar despite the path and overall season being incomparable. Barr proved to be an absolute killer whereas Welsh was lucky he got placed on the cupcake side of the bracket.

[Johnyt9]

53 minutes ago, BAC said:

I'm just taking Welsh at his word.  Are you calling him a liar?  If so, got any evidence?

Also... Little Rock? Seriously, you're cool with raiding one of the newest and tiniest programs there is?

In any case, unlike you, I'm not going to accuse Iowa of secretly trying to cut deals with your Little Rock buyouts before they entered the portal, and violating all sorts of rules to get them.  Any particular reason you didn't accuse Iowa of that, the same way you did PSU?  

Bailey and Williams were in the portal and took other visits before Iowa so Idk how you are saying Iowa is evil for paying them and taking them on.  They were leaving LR regardless

You cannot have it both ways.

Willie tweeted - Welsh going into portal - hearing it s PSU and its done. so that seems quite different

[Johnyt9]

3 minutes ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

C'mon brother you know the NCAA finish could be similar despite the path and overall season being incomparable. Barr proved to be an absolute killer whereas Welsh was lucky he got placed on the cupcake side of the bracket.

do you think he feels this way?

[Kov88]

The whole situation still seems weird to me, him being so angry just because the staff wanted him to RS…. Clearly he’s better than Kharchla but no one imagined him going 0-2 and Rocco had a shirt to burn

[Spencerlee]

drama in Happy Valley?

[scourge165]

13 hours ago, RawDog said:

Jordan Williams will be the 149 champ next year.

I think he's got a shot. He went to SV with Henson this year. Iowa hasn't had a ton of success with transfers and this only furthers the point Askren made, but...what, should they have NOT gone after them? 

I think his best chance would have been at Okie St, but...what's done is done. I think he's got a chance. 

 

12 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

How did he do this year?

He lost to last years champ and the guy who lost this year 1-0 in SV.

But what a stupid premise. If he didn't win it next year, he can't next? Joey Blaze took 2nd after going 0-2, losing to a guy who took an 8th and another who didn't place. 

Chumbley was the 20 seed. Took 4th. 

Taylor was the 8th seed. Won it this year.

Now this is '57, but amazing how those things happened, isn't it? 

[BruceyB]

1 hour ago, BAC said:

Kinda funny that the Iowa people have been trashing PSU for sneakily poaching Welsh from Ohio State when they weren't looking, that they're the Lance Armstrong of wrestling, blah blah blah.  A few days later, a couple truths come out.

1. Welsh confirms that his PSU contact was only after entering the portal, and is something he'd wanted for a long time beforehand since he wanted better practice partners than tOSU was able to give him. Also confirms PSU was never a done deal (but was one of a couple that HE was targeting since, after all, it was all about getting better partners), that he'd fielded numerous far-more-lucrative cash offers from other schools, but instead chose PSU with its small NIL collective for the strength of its room, in a decision made only yesterday.  

2. Iowa shells out the bucks to pluck not one but TWO starters from tiny Little Rock, which is sort of like Elon Musk mugging a homeless man to steal his shoes.

Queue the jokes about "lolz oh yeah I'm SURE they just wanna be in State College lololol."

Except... yeah, they just really wanna be in State College.  At least Rocco does.

You can accuse PSU of poaching, but to do so, you need to call Rocco a liar.  I'm anti-poaching, but do NOT think any coach should say "No, you are not welcome here" if they come banging on your door and saying they want to compete for a spot.  And so it is here.

PSU continues to be holier than thou. The naivety to listen to this interview and thing PSU didn't step on any lines.. What do you expect Welsh to do in this interview? Announce that PSU was "illegally" tampering with an athlete that was yet to enter the portal? Barry Bonds never did steroids either.. give me a break. I don't even care if it was tampering. There are no rules at this point, but to act like this interview vindicates any foul practice is just absurd.

[BruceyB]

27 minutes ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

C'mon brother you know the NCAA finish could be similar despite the path and overall season being incomparable. Barr proved to be an absolute killer whereas Welsh was lucky he got placed on the cupcake side of the bracket.

A true freshman making the finals regardless of path is a pretty major feat. I'm certain he got substantially better this year and will be another hammer in PSU tool belt, that actually, only has slots for hammers.

[Le duke]

C'mon brother you know the NCAA finish could be similar despite the path and overall season being incomparable. Barr proved to be an absolute killer whereas Welsh was lucky he got placed on the cupcake side of the bracket.

Agreed.

With Haines at 174, I’m guessing Welsh will battle his club teammate for the 184 spot. And then someone will drop down in 26-27. And Ryder has been getting a lot of reps in with Haines, a 5Xer and Barr.

Meanwhile, Henckel and Cunningham Jr should seriously consider spending a year at the OTC (or NLWC, TBH) as a GS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BAC]

33 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

Well, in one scenario you have them going into the portal,  going on a visit to a completely different school and eventually committing to Iowa.  Then you have Welsh being announced in the portal and the IMMEDIATE reporting that it was Penn State, done deal.  Don't piss on my back and tell me it's raining.

Life pro tip:  if Pat Mineo tells you it's raining, he's actually peeing on your back.

Come on Vak.  As I said at the outset, it NEVER made sense that PSU would be seeking this kid out, as he's not really an upgrade.  You guffawed.  But what I said isn't exactly rocket science, is it? 

But now Welsh has confirmed it. Again, unless you're going to call him a liar, the desire to go to PSU initiated with him, not PSU, and he considered other offers before settling on his initial first choice of PSU. It wasn't Welsh who reported PSU, it was the rumor train, which you were happy to jump on.

But let's say for a moment that the initial rumors/reporting were accurate, and he really did commit the same day he entered the portal.  That's also consistent with him knowing beforehand that he wanted to go to PSU for its room, without regard to NIL, isn't it?  I'd get your point if Welsh announced the same day he entered the portal while holding up one of those 8-foot-long lottery checks to boast of his NIL largesse, or if there was credible reporting of same.  Or if he had announced a transfer outside the portal window (like certain Iowa transfers, *cough cough*).  These things tell you there was improper solicitation going on.  But there was none of that here.  Yet you jumped right in with the smears and Lance Amstrong stuff.

33 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

And I don't remember your specific position on the Bassett NIL deal with him

I can dig up the old posts if you want, but I predicted here that he'd go to Iowa and why it would make sense for him to do so, and after he committed, I commented here that it made sense, and I agreed the choice made sense for what he was looking for.

I didn't comment on his NIL deal, as candidly, I've never heard any rumors of what it is/was.  I'm pretty sure Bassett said in an interview that the NIL piece wasn't the main driver of his decision, and I believe him.

If you want to tell me what his NIL deal was, I can comment, but I have a really high opinion of the kid and think he's well worth whatever investment Iowa can afford.

33 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

(and last years Iowa transfers back then) disputing the reported numbers,  but I'd LOVE to hear it.

I don't recall commenting on the accuracy of the dollar amount of the NIL deals of the other Iowa transfers (Buchanan/Teemer/Parco). I heard $500K for Buchanan being thrown around, but don't recall who said it, or if it was ever confirmed. 

Why do you ask?  Is $500K accurate?  What did the other two get?  

My own transfer-related beefs with Iowa came from a different angle.

First, whatever the payout, I think Iowa totally betrayed Glazier, a had a perfectly solid homegrown 197lber.  Had it happened like Welsh -- e.g. Buchanan enters portal, wants to go to Iowa because he loves Iowa's room, initiates contact and goes to Iowa despite better offers elsewhere -- I'd have no qualms. No starting spot is guaranteed.  But what Iowa did is shocking, going outside the portal window to lure in a one-year-wonder with NIL money to take his spot and run him out of Iowa City. No one, certainly not Buchanan, has ever suggested that contact was initiated by him, not Iowa.

Second, and more broadly, I think Iowa is cannibalizing itself, its culture and its recruits with its over-reliance on late-career ringers.  Parco, Teemer and Buchanan collectively had 16 years of wrestling elsewhere, with one year left, bought in to take over a weight from the existing recruits and get wins while the homegrown guys either watch or leave.  What does it even mean to be a Hawkeye wrestler anymore?  Not much.  Truth is, Iowa coaching isn't developing talent and is glossing over their failures with a slumlord's money. Take away the transfers, and Northern Iowa has surpassed them, but their fans won't hold Brands accountable.

[nhs67]

1 hour ago, Spencerlee said:

The guy he had the same results as without a redshirt?

Same finish, not the same results.  You're talking ~40% bonus and some CLOSE matches compared to ~70% while dismantling many AA.

[BAC]

59 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Small NIL collective lol.  

LOL fair.  My point is that the NIL money that Welsh was offered is likely whatever comes from the collective, i.e. what everyone shares in, and not the separate cash offers that a lot of schools are doing.  That's consistent with Byers' comments a couple days ago and Welsh's comments today.  

[nhs67]

52 minutes ago, Johnyt9 said:

Bailey and Williams were in the portal and took other visits before Iowa so Idk how you are saying Iowa is evil for paying them and taking them on.  They were leaving LR regardless

You cannot have it both ways.

Willie tweeted - Welsh going into portal - hearing it s PSU and its done. so that seems quite different

Bailey and Williams stopped by to see Williams' buddy Steed enroute to Iowa.

[rsotelo]

20 hours ago, MizzouFan01 said:

From what I’m hearing, it’s true. Too bad we couldn’t close the deal. 

Do you guys really think these kids are making that kind of money?  In wrestling?  You have NCAA champ coaches that make $45k a year and associate head coaches that make $90k - $120k.  Unless you are considering full out of state tuition, room and board, and stipend into the calculation, we do not even get close.  If you are getting a $300k "bag of money" to wrestle ONE season, why are you still driving around in a 10 year old beat up honda civic?

[Boring]

6 minutes ago, rsotelo said:

If you are getting a $300k "bag of money" to wrestle ONE season, why are you still driving around in a 10 year old beat up honda civic?

A 10 year old Honda Civic is probably still more reliable than most brand new cars by other brands. 

[1032004]

34 minutes ago, Le duke said:

Agreed.

With Haines at 174, I’m guessing Welsh will battle his club teammate for the 184 spot. And then someone will drop down in 26-27. And Ryder has been getting a lot of reps in with Haines, a 5Xer and Barr.

Meanwhile, Henckel and Cunningham Jr should seriously consider spending a year at the OTC (or NLWC, TBH) as a GS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You’re probably right in that they only really need to figure out one year with Welsh/Ryder.  I’m guessing the loser of the wrestleoff gets “injured” and gets a medical RS

Edited March 31 by 1032004

[BAC]

1 hour ago, BruceyB said:

PSU continues to be holier than thou. The naivety to listen to this interview and thing PSU didn't step on any lines.. What do you expect Welsh to do in this interview? Announce that PSU was "illegally" tampering with an athlete that was yet to enter the portal? Barry Bonds never did steroids either.. give me a break. I don't even care if it was tampering. There are no rules at this point, but to act like this interview vindicates any foul practice is just absurd.

Why is it so hard to believe that a kid who doesn't feel he's improving would want to move to PSU for its top-shelf room?  I truly don't understand what's so hard to believe about that.

Exactly what lies are you accusing Welsh of telling?  That he was unhappy in the OSU room?  That he was "angry" at them for not letting him compete?  That asked for and held a meeting with the staff about his desire to bring in more competitive partners in the RTC?  

Are you saying he just made all this stuff up, and what REALLY happened is that he was this super happy Buckeye until evil Cael snuck into his dorm one night and whispered sweet nothings about what PSU could offer, and promising untold riches?

What exactly are you accusing PSU of, and what's the factual basis for your accusation?

[Wrestleknownothing]

1 hour ago, BruceyB said:

PSU continues to be holier than thou. The naivety to listen to this interview and thing PSU didn't step on any lines.. What do you expect Welsh to do in this interview? Announce that PSU was "illegally" tampering with an athlete that was yet to enter the portal? Barry Bonds never did steroids either.. give me a break. I don't even care if it was tampering. There are no rules at this point, but to act like this interview vindicates any foul practice is just absurd.

Why do you think Welsh is lying?

[scourge165]

15 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

How many more millions will Bob dish out for 3rd and 4th place finishes?

How many more posts will you make about those 3rd and 4th place finishes being 1st and 1st place finishes over Penn State before the tournament?

Because...I'm guessing you'll outlast everyone with your trolling. 

 

Ono-will be going for his 4th title and you'll be asking if Penn State is ruining their recruiting by bringing in a foreign Wrestler(after they recruit the #1, 2 and 3 ranked Wrestlers at his weight) in a couple years...or whatever. Just spit-balling, but I'm not sure I'm capable of imagining the stupidity of your posts until I actually see them. 

 

Oh, one I DEFINITELY see coming, "PSU only won by 60 points and only scored 150 points. Is Cael on the Hot seat?" 

[1032004]

9 minutes ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

Why do you think Welsh is lying?

Did Welsh say he had no contact with PSU prior to entering the portal?  Obviously he’s not going to admit it, but he probably doesn’t want to lie either.  I thought he just said he hadn’t officially decided.  If he was club teammates with some of the guys on the team I’m guessing he at least mentioned to them that he was thinking about it in the beginning of this season when the earlier rumors started, and then word of that likely spread elsewhere.  No clue if that would include the coaching staff or the PSU version of Nicolls.

Edited March 31 by 1032004

[1032004]

7 hours ago, The Kid said:

The out of state tuition is likely over $50,000 a year.  Food, rent, book, laptops, etc. aren't included in the tuition.  Four years of this nonsense and you're looking closer to $300,000 total.

How about one year like Teemer and Buchanan?

[Wrestleknownothing]

4 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Did Welsh say he had no contact with PSU prior to entering the portal?  Obviously he’s not going to admit it, but he probably doesn’t want to lie either.  I thought he just said he hadn’t officially decided.  If he was club teammates with some of the guys on the team I’m guessing he at least mentioned to them that he was thinking about it in the beginning of this season when the earlier rumors started.

You act like he was being deposed.

[1032004]

Just now, Wrestleknownothing said:

You act like he was being deposed.

No, I just find it odd multiple people have commented something along the lines of “are you calling Welsh a liar,” when he probably did not lie about anything, but what he said doesn’t rule out that there could have been some shadiness happening from the PSU side.  

Honestly the only thing that surprised me was that he specifically said what he’s getting paid to go to PSU was “a lot” less than he was offered by other schools.  I feel like most likely (but who really knows) in other situations such as Nagao they may be paying less but not “a lot” less.