POLL: Why did PSU recruit a xfer they didn't need?

[okokzach]

Other?

Edited April 3, 2025 by okokzach

[jchapman]

I thought they didn't recruit him.  Didn't Welsh essentially contact them and ask to join?

[okokzach]

3 minutes ago, jchapman said:

I thought they didn't recruit him.  Didn't Welsh essentially contact them and ask to join?

I don't know who acted first, but if you offer to pay a kid to come to your school, that is recruiting 

[ionel]

33 minutes ago, okokzach said:

Other?

It sounded like fun 

[CHROMEBIRD]

Welsh is exceptionally good at dodging wrenches, and if you can dodge a wrench...

[swoopdown]

Ryder sucked at dodgeball and was always the last guy picked.

 

[ionel]

39 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Welsh is exceptionally good at dodging wrenches, and if you can dodge a wrench...

[AnklePicker]

This could actually be a huge moment for Taylor and co. If Ryder goes to Oklahoma State and knocks off Welsh it would be an epic redemption story the likes of we haven’t seen since Bubba J knocked off Taylor himself.  

[AgaveMaria]

Maybe they didn't recruit? If he showed interest, in the climate today they would tell him "This is the Dollar package available". Not necessarily recruiting. More like reality with NIL and paying athletes.

After college most wrestlers will never get another dime for their efforts.

[jchapman]

9 minutes ago, AnklePicker said:

This could actually be a huge moment for Taylor and co. If Ryder goes to Oklahoma State and knocks off Welsh it would be an epic redemption story the likes of we haven’t seen since Bubba J knocked off Taylor himself.  

Ryder is not a returning finalist, like Jenkins was when Carl ran him off to make room for his brother.

[scourge165]

6 minutes ago, AnklePicker said:

This could actually be a huge moment for Taylor and co. If Ryder goes to Oklahoma State and knocks off Welsh it would be an epic redemption story the likes of we haven’t seen since Bubba J knocked off Taylor himself.  

Bubba's is still better. They said they didn't want Bubba. The didn't tell Ryder that. They said they wanted him, BUT...if Ryder becomes a multiple time champ, I think this is as close as you can get. 

I think this will be one people will say "Penn State lost." I don't see Welsh replicating his success in a stacked 184 next year, but who knows. 

[PortaJohn]

15 minutes ago, jchapman said:

Ryder is not a returning finalist, like Jenkins was when Carl ran him off to make room for his brother.

And here I thought it was because Jenkins purposely failed his spring semester to get granted a redshirt.  

[flyingcement]

I think "they welcome all comers" is a known fact among all of the top programs.  you can't win consistently by promising a role to someone that they wouldn't be able to earn themselves.  I like the competition aspect.  you want guys who are fearless and guys who don't worry about someone trying to take their spot.  I'm talking for the top level contending programs they should all have that mentality.  

[okokzach]

23 minutes ago, AgaveMaria said:

Maybe they didn't recruit? If he showed interest, in the climate today they would tell him "This is the Dollar package available". Not necessarily recruiting. More like reality with NIL and paying athletes.

After college most wrestlers will never get another dime for their efforts.

What you described is recruiting. 

[okokzach]

4 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

I think "they welcome all comers" is a known fact among all of the top programs.  you can't win consistently by promising a role to someone that they wouldn't be able to earn themselves.  I like the competition aspect.  you want guys who are fearless and guys who don't worry about someone trying to take their spot.  I'm talking for the top level contending programs they should all have that mentality.  

For sure. I think that's fair, but I do distinguish between bringing in new high school recruits vs. bringing in portal guys. I think of high school recruitment mainly as building your program and portal recruitment mainly as filling immediate holes. That seems to be how it's generally used. 

[swoopdown]

 

58 minutes ago, AnklePicker said:

This could actually be a huge moment for Taylor and co. If Ryder goes to Oklahoma State and knocks off Welsh it would be an epic redemption story the likes of we haven’t seen since Bubba J knocked off Taylor himself.  

Even if Ryder loses to Rocco the matchup has already launched a fantasy coaching career the likes we have never seen in sport.

[Ragu]

Penn State wants the best room in the world. They look for guys who will make it better. If a guy who will make it better comes to them first they will still take said guy because he makes the room better in their opinion

[AnklePicker]

2 hours ago, Ragu said:

Penn State wants the best room in the world. They look for guys who will make it better. If a guy who will make it better comes to them first they will still take said guy because he makes the room better in their opinion

Two things can be true.  While I buy that, because it’s obvious, I do think in this case there may have been some thought into not allowing him to go elsewhere, specifically to OK state.  They may have misread just how committed Ryder was.