2026 Transfer Portal

[MoveCountermove]

19 hours ago, Husker_Du said:

no confidence in Sahakian? 

Not "No" confidence, but I think he was always a high level guy who was going to need a few years of seasoning. I didn't follow a ton of his HS career, but I remember watching him look lost against Jude Correa (flipped from UM to Cornell after we accepted Sahakian's commitment, was not happy). I think he would benefit from one more season behind someone else who can help Sahakian kind of pick and choose his tough matches and continue to build towards possible 3x AA. I wouldn't mind him being the starter, I wouldn't view it as a hole like I have for others in the past (Botero 133, or 125 the year before). But, I could see it going a bit like Hayden Walters, and Sahakian finding himself getting worked by better competition. Trying to preserve his mental toughness, I guess, while also asking for competition for him to help iron sharpen iron

[MoveCountermove]

15 hours ago, DeezyDoesIt said:

Of all the Stanford guys, Provo is probably the highest floor and ceiling. Was in every single match even the ones he lost to LL and Ventresca. And then he actually wiped the back of the bracket on the way to 3rd. He is an upgrade for every program except PSU, OSU, VT.

Would take him in a heartbeat at U of M. Dominant. Consistent. Coachable. Best kind of wrestler to have

[MoveCountermove]

13 hours ago, Idaho said:

If he could make the cut, why not stay at Nebraska? Cutting 25 lbs with Barr there and Heavy clearing out does not make sense. 

Is it possible he is just looking for more headlines or whatever? He definitely seems like he really enjoys being in the limelight...perhaps he's trying to line himself up for everyone to talk all year about the Barr and Ferrari potential? Leave the conference and you won't have to worry about the test until NCAAs? Stay, and you likely have to see him a few times at a dual and Big Tens, you lose  those and all the hype is gone. 

Total speculation here on the above, but I will say that I viewed AJ as a guy that was never going to find home, and was likely to be on the move again after his stay in Nebraska. A fantastic talent, but his own head and ego get in his way too often. Would not at all be surprised to see him transition to the WWE after his career.

Also, RE: weight cutting to 197...I thought I had read here or elsewhere that the vibe is that AJ LOVES lifting and physical fitness, potentially more than the sport. It would be tough to cut 20-30 pounds for a solid 4 months if he is continuing his gains in the weight room. He will have to pump the brakes on adding lean mass for a year if he wants to go 197.

tl;dr - I know nothing

[MoveCountermove]

12 hours ago, flyingcement said:

gotcha-  that part explains it.  I guess this is a very small example of what Wisconsin deals with on a larger scale

Ignorance here in the form of a fellow message board poster...I am abundantly aware that Brands rubs people the wrong way (not entirely sure I would want to wrestle for him). I've gathered from this board (new here) that the vibe toward Wisconsin was that Reader was a huge piece of their puzzle...do people not like Bono for one reason or another? I feel like an idiot asking, but I'm tired of trying to read through the lines lol

[ionel]

34 minutes ago, MoveCountermove said:

Not "No" confidence

@mr.nonothingatall are you two cousins? 

Edited April 4 by ionel

[MoveCountermove]

10 hours ago, flyingcement said:

Random prediction:
AJ and Anthony attempt to transfer back to Iowa.  If they are rejected, then Angelo enters the portal and they go somewhere together for this year as they had originally hoped.

Would be bonkers, but believable at minimum. I don't think they get back in at Iowa, I sense Brands has no more patience for AJ's antics. Angelo leaving would be wild, and I sort of want to see all this happen now lol

I think Angelo stays and AJ and Anthony maybe try to find a place together

[ionel]

Maybe we need a say 10% portal tax.  Each time you enter the portal you assign 10% of your NIL money to a Portal Fund.  The PF could be used to fund athletes at smaller programs with no access to NIL $s.  Yeah just like Trump's plan it'll never happen.  

[Buford]

Someone needs to put together a list of guys in the portal and their years of eligibility left.   

[cowcards]

1 minute ago, Buford said:

Someone needs to put together a list of guys in the portal and their years of eligibility left.   

Wrestlestat is amazing

[nhs67]

1 hour ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

So IF ol’ fast twitchy can convince the NCAA to give him another year after a RS, Oly RS (is there not a requirement that you have to wrestle at the Open to get one of these?) and injury year (after wrestling 10 matches), he’ll try for a 4th NCAA medal at his 4th different school.

Has that ever happened before? 4x AA at 4 different D1 schools? There’s not a loyal bone in that guys body.

Interestingly enough, he is showing loyalty to his brother in this.

[ionel]

11 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

Interestingly enough, he is showing loyalty to his brother in this.

Do they all three end up at Iowa next year?  Jimmy guaranteed this is the formula for an Iowa team championship.  

 

PS:  if Iowa do the birds return?  

 

Edited April 4 by ionel

[headshuck]

It has never happened before. 3 with him and Buchanan is the record. I added a LB to list them. No one has even appeared at the National Tournament for 4 different teams yet. 

 

I’d have to rate that right up there with Kyle Dake’s achievement of four titles at four different weights.

[nhs67]

1 hour ago, MoveCountermove said:

Would absolutely take Zepeda, but I don't think that makes a ton of sense for Michigan or Zepeda with their log jam at these middle weights. Prefer the method of "take everyone, figure out your lineup later" regardless, but this is a bit of a head scratcher for me, personally. 

Mendoza, Wolbert, Lemley, Botero, Hilton, Sement, Wilson, Cosby, Catrabone...all names than populate that 133-157 weight range. Adding Zepeda strengthens this, but concerns me over guys like Sement and Wolbert, etc. Depending on weight gains and cuts, this is likely to push a guy or two to the portal, if true

I think Botero and Sement showed they were either at the wrong weight, they need another year (or two), or both.  Zepeda is ready now.

I believe Mendoza, Hilton, and Wolbert have showed signs up being contributors (~0.500 or better potential) next season as well.

Not sure on Wilson and Cosby as of now.  Leaning more 'needs time' than 'ready now' though.  Cosby is on the same sort of level and pedigree as Gates and I would out Wilson slightly lower than him (think Nate Limmex from Purdue a few years ago as peak).

In short, these guys will need to make the room for themselves and I don't know who goes where to do that.  Here is what I am thinking are everyone's best weights/next best, which doesn't mean they start 

Botero - 125/133

Mendoza - 141/133

Sement - 141/149

Wolbert - 141/149

Wilson - 149/141

Hilton - 149/157

Zepeda - 149/157

Catrabone - 157/165

Gates - 157/165

Cosby - 157/165

Gilcher - 157/165

Lemley - 149/141

Unless Zepeda cannot make 149lbs, I think this is the best lineup next year:

125 - Botero

133 - Mendoza

141 - Lemley

149 - Zepeda

157 - Catrabone

165 - Gilcher

The only real worry towards qualifications there is Botero.

Edit:  I think there is a significant nonzero chance that Provo and/or Knox end up at Michigan as well, so there is that...

Edited April 4 by nhs67

[nhs67]

3 minutes ago, ionel said:

Do they all three end up at Iowa next year?  Jimmy guaranteed this is the formula for an Iowa team championship.  

 

PS:  if Iowa do the birds return?  

 

Honestly, I think there is a twist of fate here.  If he truly is shopping a package deal, a team that isn't 'in the running' might actually be.  I mean a team like Central Michigan (mid to upper MAC) or Michigan State (lower B1G) might be in the running.  Both Focus brothers would be immediate roster improvements to both of those schools.  Wisler/Cochran (197lbers) could spend the 'now' working towards a different weight.

That said, thinking on what Anthony's grades might be, and MAC/Socon or equivalent might be the only path.  I think a school like Sacred Heart could absolutely use that publicity (and they would be right near NYC).  Or Rider (NJ) or Lock Haven (track record).

[ionel]

1 minute ago, nhs67 said:

Honestly, I think there is a twist of fate here.  If he truly is shopping a package deal, a team that isn't 'in the running' might actually be.  I mean a team like Central Michigan (mid to upper MAC) or Michigan State (lower B1G) might be in the running.  Both Focus brothers would be immediate roster improvements to both of those schools.  Wisler/Cochran (197lbers) could spend the 'now' working towards a different weight.

That said, thinking on what Anthony's grades might be, and MAC/Socon or equivalent might be the only path.  I think a school like Sacred Heart could absolutely use that publicity (and they would be right near NYC).  Or Rider (NJ) or Lock Haven (track record).

Little Rock? 

[Idaho]

58 minutes ago, Buford said:

Someone needs to put together a list of guys in the portal and their years of eligibility left.   

LOL....@flyingcement has already posted this in this very thread. It has every wrestler, weight, school and their year of eligibility and he updates it.....or use wrestlestat. 

[Idaho]

1 hour ago, MoveCountermove said:

Not "No" confidence, but I think he was always a high level guy who was going to need a few years of seasoning. I didn't follow a ton of his HS career, but I remember watching him look lost against Jude Correa (flipped from UM to Cornell after we accepted Sahakian's commitment, was not happy). I think he would benefit from one more season behind someone else who can help Sahakian kind of pick and choose his tough matches and continue to build towards possible 3x AA. I wouldn't mind him being the starter, I wouldn't view it as a hole like I have for others in the past (Botero 133, or 125 the year before). But, I could see it going a bit like Hayden Walters, and Sahakian finding himself getting worked by better competition. Trying to preserve his mental toughness, I guess, while also asking for competition for him to help iron sharpen iron

Was Sahakian injured this year? 

[nhs67]

2 minutes ago, ionel said:

Little Rock? 

Little is still in Little Rock.

[Idaho]

1 minute ago, nhs67 said:

Little is still in Little Rock.

Unless he stayed at heavy.... lil bro probably wouldn't have a spot with Herman at 149. 

[headshuck]

North Dakota could use a fleet of Ferraris.

[ionel]

6 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

Little is still in Little Rock.

but 84 and hwt? 

little bro pick a weight 

Edited April 4 by ionel

[nhs67]

7 minutes ago, Idaho said:

Unless he stayed at heavy.... lil bro probably wouldn't have a spot with Herman at 149. 

Unless Herman went 157?

5 minutes ago, ionel said:

but 84 and hwt? 

little bro pick a weight 

I don't think Angelo will end up being part of it.

[ionel]

17 minutes ago, headshuck said:

North Dakota could use a fleet of Ferraris.

[JimmySpeaks]

17 minutes ago, headshuck said:

North Dakota could use a fleet of Ferraris.

They wouldn’t run very well in the cold 

[Buford]

23 minutes ago, Idaho said:

LOL....@flyingcement has already posted this in this very thread. It has every wrestler, weight, school and their year of eligibility and he updates it.....or use wrestlestat. 

I guess I heard of wrestlers listed as Grad Transfers that have 2-3 years available.   I didn't think I saw that listed