Which Is The #1 Recruiting Class

[Husker_Du]

it's a tough call, imo.

working on the final report/rankings now.

thought i'd take it to the boards

 

Penn State: 

 #1-PJ Duke (NY/157), #2-Marcus Blaze (OH/141), #18-Will Henckel (CT/184), #22-Asher Cunningham (PA/174), #39-Nathan Desmond (PA, 125-133), #54-Dalton Perry (PA/149)

 

Oklahoma State: 

#3-Ladarion Lockett (OK/165), #5-Landon Robideau (MN/157), #6-Sergio Vega (AZ/149), #24-Kody Routledge (OK/157), #26-Ronnie Ramirez (CA/133), #50-Austin Johnson (PA/197), #62-Ishmael Guerrero (OK/165), #63-Kruz Goff (OK/285), #72-Beau Hickman (OK/157), #205-Ethan Teague (OK/174)

[cowcards]

Oklahoma State. 3 in the Top-6 > Top-2 & 5 in the Top 25 > 4.

I need to go back and update my points scored for each recruiting rank to get an updated idea on what to expect from each. 

[Ragu]

Any perspective is helpful yeah? For me, let's look at the big dawgs. Duke's ceiling is an ability to win multiple national titles, I want to say floor for him is likely multi time AA and I feel the very same way for  Marcus Blaze, except for Blaze I expect him to get at least one. Not too familiar with other names. For PSU those upper weights are full of talent so not sure what to expect out of the rest of those guys. Lockett, Robideau, and Vega all impact right away if they so please and DT gives the green light. I see floor for Lockett being multi time AA with a ceiling of 2 titles. The Robideau and Vega floor are multi time AA with both having a ceiling of a title each. Unlikely to see major production out of the rest of the crop but I'm 100% ignorant and did not follow HS nearly as close this past year as I used to. I know things like 4 year starter and such are/used to be but with the portal being as hot as it is who's to say these guys finish their career where they started? In conclusion, I have no idea. I think for the most part PSU will keep the guys it wants to and will have major succuss with their wrestlers. On the other hand, OKSt has impact right away that PSU probably won't have. I'd give edge to DT and the cowboys if I had to pick but I don't feel good about it

[Truzzcat]

I think it matters where these guys are going, and the current lineup fit. Lockett,Robiedau,Vega,Ramirez (if he holds 125) to me all have the ability to be 4-year impact guys. On the PSU side of things while Cunningham,Perry,Henckel,Desmond are all great I just do not think you get a ton of years of production out of those guys. Blaze and Duke is probably as sure of a bet of big points right away as you will get but I am super high on Vega,Robideau,Lockett and I think you probably get more cumulative value out of that class given where they fit into the lineup. 

[Gene Mills Fan]

16 hours ago, Husker_Du said:

it's a tough call, imo.

working on the final report/rankings now.

thought i'd take it to the boards

 

Penn State: 

 #1-PJ Duke (NY/157), #2-Marcus Blaze (OH/141), #18-Will Henckel (CT/184), #22-Asher Cunningham (PA/174), #39-Nathan Desmond (PA, 125-133), #54-Dalton Perry (PA/149)

 

Oklahoma State: 

#3-Ladarion Lockett (OK/165), #5-Landon Robideau (MN/157), #6-Sergio Vega (AZ/149), #24-Kody Routledge (OK/157), #26-Ronnie Ramirez (CA/133), #50-Austin Johnson (PA/197), #62-Ishmael Guerrero (OK/165), #63-Kruz Goff (OK/285), #72-Beau Hickman (OK/157), #205-Ethan Teague (OK/174)

Jax Forrest!!!!! ???  and Ross are they both a year out?

Edited Monday at 07:39 PM by Gene Mills Fan
additional question

[Dark Energy]

PSU #1.

Curious, why is PJ #1 and Blaze #2?  Both are animals.  No slight meant.  Just curious.  Seems like Blaze has beaten more big guns.  No?

Edited Monday at 08:42 PM by Dark Energy

[Husker_Du]

if you consider Blaze the #1 over Duke you won't get much argument from me. 

i just think Duke has (much) more offense and the gap between him and his peers (at his weight) is greater.

[Wrasslin]

Super tough call- you’re right! I don’t think folks would fault you either way, Willie.

I’m leaning Oklahoma State and here’s why:

1. As @Truzzcat said (he and I seem to agree on a lot of stuff), you look for immediate impact guys in their respective lineups. The two guys here are Blaze and Lockett- both are start right away guys and multiple time NCAA champions IMO. It’s a wash- they cancel each other out. ***NOTE: Duke not here because I don’t think he can break into PSU starting lineup
2. Robideau/Vega/Routledge/Ramirez have higher ceiling than Duke/Henckel/Cunningham.
   1. PJ Duke leaves PSU after first year. Realizes he can’t break in over Van Ness, Kasak, Mesenbrink.
   2.  Vega trajectory similar to that of former OSU star Nathan Morgan- 3x AA but no title (Freshman redshirt pulled). He’d benefit from a true redshirt year. 
   3. Ronnie Ramirez underrated - has potential to be national champ- multiple time AA. Will benefit in OKST room.
3. Statistically speaking, larger top 100 recruiting class = higher probability of someone overachieving their ranking. Odds are with OKST here.

I’m open to feedback- thoughts?

[cowcards]

Projections on where they fit into a lineup shouldn't have an impact on which class is better. There are too many unknowns with the portal, injuries, etc. Just because there isn't a wide-open spot today doesn't mean there won't be one tomorrow or vice versa. Look at Zach Ryder. Plus, with the various redshirts, there are all sorts of ways to make the lineups work so that guys get their full 4 years. 

[Husker_Du]

you're seriously underestimating PJ Duke. he's going to destroy people. he'll start whenever he wants. 

[Husker_Du]

I love routledge, but where and when does he become a factor in that lineup? especially if Dee goes 165. 

[Wrasslin]

On 4/21/2025 at 6:45 PM, Husker_Du said:

you're seriously underestimating PJ Duke. he's going to destroy people. he'll start whenever he wants. 

Well, I did predict that coming out of HS, Lebron James had no career in the NBA sooo... There's a possibility I'm wrong on Duke too!! He's legit no question, and it's not so much an indictment of Duke as much to say that the current guys in the PSU room around his weight are already destroying people. I think he may have to wait his turn is all.  

[Wrestleknownothing]

On 4/20/2025 at 10:00 PM, Husker_Du said:

it's a tough call, imo.

working on the final report/rankings now.

thought i'd take it to the boards

 

Penn State: 

 #1-PJ Duke (NY/157), #2-Marcus Blaze (OH/141), #18-Will Henckel (CT/184), #22-Asher Cunningham (PA/174), #39-Nathan Desmond (PA, 125-133), #54-Dalton Perry (PA/149)

 

Oklahoma State: 

#3-Ladarion Lockett (OK/165), #5-Landon Robideau (MN/157), #6-Sergio Vega (AZ/149), #24-Kody Routledge (OK/157), #26-Ronnie Ramirez (CA/133), #50-Austin Johnson (PA/197), #62-Ishmael Guerrero (OK/165), #63-Kruz Goff (OK/285), #72-Beau Hickman (OK/157), #205-Ethan Teague (OK/174)

Based on the Big Board data you shared with me in the past the expected AA's for PSU is 7 and the expected AA's for OSU is 9.

While those both seem a touch low I think they are directionally correct. Top 10 BB recruits AA more than twice as often as those ranked 11-20 (2.3 vs 1.1). Since OSU has 3 top 10's to PSU's 2 top 10's, you have to give OSU the edge.

[Husker_Du]

thanks WKN. let me know if you need updated data to run those numbers again.

[Le duke]

Well, I did predict that coming out of HS, Lebron James had no career in the NBA sooo... There's a possibility I'm wrong on Duke too!! He's legit no question, and it's not so much an indictment of Duke as much to say that the current guys in the PSU room around his weight are already destroying people. I think he may have to wait his turn is all.  

Maybe not.

Just spitballing:

Upcoming season is Haines’ last year.

MM goes up to 174 for 26-27. Gets big enough to be a true 74kg senior level dude, but doesn’t cut much to make 165.

Kasak or Duke RS this upcoming season. The following year, one of them goes 165.


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[Husker_Du]

PJ Duke starts when and where he wants. 

you guys aren't understanding me. 

[Ragu]

Are you being told this?

[Truzzcat]

I think one thing worth noting is Pj weight in at 172.0 on 1/25 this year for a tournament. Obviously he is getting down to 70kg so he was not cutting to to make 170 +2. He is a true senior though so I do wonder how easy it will be for him to make 157 week after week next season. That being said I do agree if he wants to go next year he will be the guy.

[11986]

still think it would have been cool for PJ Duke to have signed with Duke. Or better yet, in a perfect world, JMU still has a program, and he wrestles for the Dukes. 

[Gantry]

 Even better yet, have PJ Duke sign an NIL deal with Randolph & Mortimer Duke.  Frozen concentrated orange juice futures could use a marketing boost.

Edited 2 hours ago by Gantry

[MPhillips]

2 minutes ago, Gantry said:

Randolph & Mortimer Duke

About twelve of us get this...