Team Race:

If you simply plug my individual weight predictions (below) into the NCAA scoring rubric, you get the following scores:
1. Ohio State - 100
2. Penn State - 98
3. Oklahoma State - 90
4. Iowa - 83
5. Missouri - 81.5
6. Virginia Tech - 72
7. Michigan - 43.5
8. Cornell - 38.5
9. Illinois - 37.5
10. Minnesota - 34.5
10. Arizona State - 34.5

But that won't be exactly my prediction.  Penn State has a long standing track record as the best bonus point scoring team in the country.  This scoring rubric does not factor in bonus points.  For that reason, I will be picking Penn State to win NCAA's.  Just Retherford and Nolf alone may be enough to tip the scales in the bonus department.  

What's interesting is this top 6 was known and expected.  However, I didn't think we'd see this much separation from 6 on  It's tough to see a scenario where a team outside of the top 6 enters trophy contention, yet we see it on a yearly basis.  

CP's Predictions:

1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Oklahoma State
4. Iowa
5. Missouri
6. Virginia Tech
7. Michigan
8. Cornell
9. Illinois
10. Arizona State

125

With a couple of weeks before NCAA Division I wrestling season gets started, it's a great time to start rolling out weight-by-weight previews. Here you'll find our previews for 125-157 pounds.

When you combine the graduation of Penn State's Nico Megaludis and Ohio State's Nathan Tomasello heading up to 133, the landscape at 125 looks considerably different. However, those changes bring new opportunities for other contenders and stars to rise to the occasion.

These previews will include my picks for title contenders, predictions for Nos. 1-12, and analysis as to how I reached these conclusions.

Title Contenders:

Thomas Gilman, Iowa
Nick Suriano, Penn State
Joey Dance, Virginia Tech

Looking around, I don't know who has the goods to head into this realm outside of these three. People like to take "wait and see" approaches with freshmen, typically. I'm the opposite. We see freshmen each and every year live up to their billing. Though he's a true freshman, I believe Suriano has the skills to compete with and beat many of the best. His hand-fighting and power have been DI ready for a year or two at this point. He's been at Penn State a few months now. Come March, he'll be ready to rock. An extremely well-respected person in the wrestling community told me this weekend that his pick was Suriano in March. Like, to win the whole thing. So it's not just me who's high on the young buck.

For Dance, nobody questions the ability or his wins (Megaludis, Tomasello, Gilman, and Dylan Peters). However, his inability to get it done the last two seasons gives most people pause. Gilman is so good, there are only a few guys you can really consider title contenders. That's why this list will probably be shorter than most. Despite his success and toughness last year, I can't put Peters in this tier. Though he's a home-run threat, I don't see the leg attack there that threatens the best guys.

CP's Predictions
1. Thomas Gilman, Iowa
2. Nick Suriano, Penn State
3. Joey Dance, Virginia Tech
4. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
5. Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State
6. Barlow McGhee, Missouri
7. Connor Schram, Stanford
8. Darian Cruz, Lehigh

Round of 12: Ethan Lizak, Minnesota, Tim Lambert, Nebraska, Nathan Kraisser, Campbell, Joshua Rodriguez, North Dakota State

Gilman is the man for the job at 125. After being in the mix but coming up short the last two years, look for Gilman to go out on top. He's as difficult to score on on his feet as anyone. He has incredible pace and a strong single leg that he can finish on just about anyone should he get his hands locked. The question is, can he finish that single against Suriano, who has elite single leg defense? Ultimately, a thinned out field with Gilman's skill-set will put him on top.

I think when it's all said and done, should Suriano do enough to be opposite Gilman in the NCAA bracket, he'll make the finals. When you combine Penn State and Suriano's track record, I think he will prove to be worthy of this prediction. At this point, I'd venture to guess that there are only a small number of guys who can take Suriano down in the entire country.

Peters is a safe bet to place this year, though I think his upside is limited. He's as strong as anyone at this weight and has maybe as much mental toughness as anyone in NCAA wrestling when you consider the injury he wrestled with last year at NCAAs.

I took a gamble with Piccininni. His talent is fantastic, and I just tend to err towards guys with varied leg attacks. That's Pich to a tee. McGhee was a controversial knee-brace grab away from All-American honors last year. He gets it done this season and places. Like Peters, he's a brick wall of a man and is difficult to score on. If he can be less re-attack reliant and initiate more, it could be a breakout year for Barlow.

The Nos. 7-12 spots are very fluid. I went with Schram and Cruz, because we've seen them do it before. I flirted with Lizak in the No. 8 spot as well. I don't feel terribly confident in one more than the other.  Lizak will likely be missing some time the first half of the year.  Not being plugged into the lineup can be a hindrance to some, so I gave Cruz that bump. 

133

Though this weight lost two big guns in Cody Brewer and Nahshon Garrett, there's an influx of talent who will make this weight as competitive and entertaining as it was a year ago. The young talent will keep the established hammers on their toes.  If they overlook an Eierman, Micic, Brock or Cortez, they could pay a big price.

Title Contenders:

Cory Clark, Iowa
Jaydin Eierman, Missouri
Nathan Tomasello, Ohio State
Zane Richards, Illinois

Give me NATO! Up a weight, I like him even more. I believe the cut was harder on Tomasello than many realize. We've seen him buzzsaw opponents, and in other matches, we've seen him wrestle uncharacteristically passive. I think those days are over. He'll probably score more takedowns this year than anyone at this weight. His pace and ability to get easy go-behind takedowns combined with a strong hi-c/single leg combo will separate him. I think it's an undefeated year for Tomasello. He was undefeated last year heading into the NCAA semis after all.

Clark could very well be this year's Tony Ramos for the Hawkeyes: Nipping at the heels for years and getting it done as a senior. Clark is complete in all positions. I think it comes down to a neutral battle against Tomasello. His low attack may play into NATO's short offense, and for that reason I am picking Tomasello to win it all. Clark will always have tough battles with Richards. Their styles have made that fight nip and tuck over the years, and that won't change.  It seems like Clark gets it done better when it matters most, typically.

I'll continue to be bullish on Eierman. I think his unique style and varied paths to victory will make him a nightmare match up for many of the best 133s. This could be viewed as a stretch both in eyeball test and proven results. However, the things I'm hearing about this kid make me a believer. Zane Richards has shown he can beat Clark on more than one occasion. He's stout defensively with great re-attacks and clean leg attacks. I just view him as an elite, tier one guy who will fall just short at NCAAs, though he's always been among my favorites to watch.

CP's Predictions:

1. Nathan Tomasello, Ohio State
2. Cory Clark, Iowa
3. Zane Richards, Illinois
4. Jaydin Eierman, Missouri
5. Stevan Micic, Michigan
6. Kaid Brock, Ok State
7. Eric Montoya, Nebraska
8. Jered Cortez, Penn State

Round of 12: Earl Hall, Iowa State; Seth Gross, South Dakota State; Dom Forys, Pitt; Ali Naser, Arizona State

I'm all in on the youth of this weight. Freshmen Eierman, Micic, and Brock alongside first-year starter Jered Cortez represent four of the top eight spots. Micic took the summer off from freestyle (his first love) to be ready for the folkstyle year. That kind of dedication combined with his talent is telling to me. I think this pick has the most potential to go wrong, however.  Micic has one path to victory: winning the takedown game. I don't think he'll have a difference-making mat game or counter ability to give him multiple paths to victory against 133's elite. So why is he so high? His takedowns are that good. 

A chippy NCAA semifinal between Clark and Richards:

Brock is another boom or bust guy. His only loss so far is against Nahshon Garrett (injury default, but he was getting beat pretty soundly). Can Kaid hold up all year? He has rocked a shoulder brace for awhile and is recovering from knee surgery. If he's on, he could emerge as an additional title contender. I'm hedging a bit, for now.

I could be a touch low on Montoya, but this feels about right. A strong single, requisite top game and good scrambling will put him in a lot of matches. Unlike some of the guys ahead of him, I don't think he has the upside to jump into that No. 1 tier.

This could blow up in my face as well. Two-time All-American Earl Hall off the podium with an unproven (really several unproven guys) Cortez ahead. Cortez was very strong last year with a win over Jordan Conaway and an undefeated ledger. Call it the Penn State bump. It's a real thing.

For the round of 12, I think Hall and Gross have a very strong chance of placing. Hall has as many paths to victory as anyone in the country, but his lapses in consistency gives me pause. Gross made 133 internationally and looked fine, but I'm curious how he'll look for an entire season. Predicting Naser's fate is as difficult as anyone in the country. I've never watched him wrestle a folkstyle match. He could be top four or a project for all I know. 

141

By far this is the toughest weight to prognosticate.  You can play it safe with the proven Dean Heil and nobody could blame you.  Or, you could say, it's very tough to repeat, it's a wide open weight and Heil plays it close.  I don't disagree with either stance in this case.  The combination of a returning champ who can have tight bouts on occasion, combined with a very deep field provide a difficult job for any prognosticator. 

Title Contenders:

Dean Heil
Joey McKenna
Anthony Ashnault
Bryce Meredith
Kevin Jack
Joey Ward

This was a really tough list to formulate.  Part of me wanted to keep it down to just a smaller group.  So I stopped at 6, but then was tempted to add more.  Heil and McKenna clearly belong.  Meredith cannot be discounted after his run and win over McKenna.  Ashnault, Jack and Ward need included as well based on their talent and elite wins.  

CP's Predictions:

1. Joey McKenna, Stanford
2. Dean Heil, Ok State
3. Anthony Ashnault, Rutgers
4. Joey Ward, UNC
5. Bryce Meredith, Wyoming
6. Matt Kolodzik, Princeton
7. Kevin Jack, NC State
8. Ke Shawn Hayes, Ohio State

Round of 12: George DiCamillo, UVA, Matt Manley, Missouri, Tommy Thorn, Minnesota, Randy Cruz, Lehigh

Joey McKenna had an incredibly consistent Freshman year for Stanford.  The Cardinal wrestled Heil close before but fell short against Bryce Meredith in the semi's.  McKenna, like Heil is complete in nearly every aspect.  His head hands may be slightly better than Heil's but he is not as prolific a scrambler.  I see McKenna utilizing his double leg against Heil to avoid his scrambles and wind up on top.  To say I feel shaky about this prediction is an understatement.  Guys can make real leaps between their Freshman and Sophomore seasons, that's what I think we see with McKenna.  Even a small amount of improvement could be enough to separate him from the rest.

I truly can't come up with a measurable reason to pick against Dean Heil.  The field is nearly identical to last year, and he was noticeably better than the rest.  It's rooted in nothing but gut, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit I foresee a little regression with Dean coming this year.  He's as difficult to score on as anyone in the country.  Additionally, he has no holes on the mat and can attack legs and finish consistently.  A title for Heil should surprise nobody. I have him coming one match short.

I like Ashnault to climb up a bit this year.  He had a few off moments a year ago, but I think we see him wrestle more consistently.  He has as many leg attacks as anyone in this field:  low ankle, single leg, etc. His head hands can leave him vulnerable against the best of the best, however.  

Ward was sneakily very consistent last year.  He got overlooked much of the year when he spent much of the first semester out of the lineup when Evan Henderson was at 141.  Henderson moved up and made a path for Ward to get onto the podium.  Ward was Heil's lone loss a year ago.  He is one of the few guys in the country who can scramble with Heil.  

I think we'll see Bryce Meredith maintain his high level from a year ago at NCAA's.  Just like we saw Heil solidify from his Freshman year to Sophomore, I think we'll see Meredith become more consistent for this season.  He won't have that element of surprise factor going for him this year, but he won't need it.  His game is solid.  He can attack legs and is no joke from top.  Defensively he has some outstanding counters.  A more consistent Meredith leads the Cowboys this year.  He may seem low considering he was 2nd last year but this is just a very even field.
Matt Kolodzik will have all the tools to make a deep run next year for Princeton.  He and Ke-Shawn Hayes are two Freshman that I think have tier one potential.  I don't view them as Suriano-level talents, so I'm predicting strong but not otherworldly freshman campaigns.  Kolodzik doesn't have a wealth of attacks, but when he pulls the trigger he's a high percentage finisher.  He's great from short offense and will be a stingy rider if nothing else on top.

Kevin Jack fell off the wagon last year at NCAA's losing to his former teammate Bryce Meredith, and someone he had beaten last year in Joey Ward.  I am curious as to what his response will be.  His seasons were inversed the last two seasons.  As a true freshman he was brutal in the regular season, then red-hot at NCAA's.  The opposite was true his sophomore year. He's got a great low double and wrestles a high pace for a scrambler.  On top he can ride/turn as well as anyone at the weight.  I worry about the cut down to 141 for Jack.  When you look at his wins over his career: Dean Heil, Devin Carter, Joey Ward, Chris Mecate, Anthony Ashnault, Tommy Thorn, Seth Gross, Matt Manley and Solomon Chishko.  Probably only Dean Heil has wins that can match Jack's.  

Looking for a good year out of Hayes this season.  I talk about paths to victory a lot and that being something I look for when predicting success.  I view Hayes as a guy with a few ways to get his hand raised.  Hayes has always had great top work and tilt game.  That I expect to translate at some level against NCAA competition.  On his feet he's a complete package with room to improve.  There's upside here, I could see him higher than 8, given his talent and the TOSU staff/room.

For the round of 12, this is easily the most talented, and solid group of any weight.  All of these guys have the goods to beat some of the guys I have slated to finish top 8.  There will be some awesome wrestlers coming home empty handed in this weight class.  It's that simple.

149

It's a very different story jumping from 141 to 149.  At 141, there are tons of questions in a weight filled with talent and parity. For 149, there's little discussion.  It's all Zain Retherford, all the time.  

Title Contender:

Zain Retherford, Penn State

I can't in good conscience put another name down.  Which name would I choose? Brandon Sorensen? He has been outscored 14-1 in two matches against Zain. Some people will put Mayes on this list too, but I can't wrap my mind around a guy who lost to Mike DePalma, Jake Sueflohn, and Anthony Collica last year beating someone as good as Zain. Most can't avoid getting blown out by the Penn State junior. Only four of Zain's bouts a year ago were by decision.  Maybe someone pulls off the upset of the decade (Yes, I'd view Zain losing as a bigger upset than Darrion Caldwell/Brent Metcalf in 2009). I just can't see how or who, so I won't be cute and put a name down.

CP's Predictions:

1. Zain Retherford, Penn State
2. Brandon Sorensen, Iowa
3. Lavion Mayes, Missouri
4. Micah Jordan, Ohio State
5. Alec Pantaleo, Michigan
6. Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech
7. Anthony Collica, Oklahoma State
8. Ken Theobold, Rutgers

Round of 12: Justin Oliver, Central Michigan; Pat Lugo, Edinboro; Christian Pagdilao, Arizona State; Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa

Enough about Zain. You get the picture.

Brandon Sorensen has now turned in two extremely consistent seasons for Iowa at 149 pounds. There's nobody in the field who has been as good as he's been over the past two years. Part of me really thinks the Lavion Mayes/Sorensen match could be incredibly interesting, but I'm not going to give Mayes that respect til I see it. There's potentially more tiers in this weight than any other. There's a Zain tier, a Sorensen tier, and then the Michah Jordan/Mayes/Collica, etc. tier.  

I have a strong allegiance to Mayes from a few years back when I dubbed him one of my biggest sleepers coming into the 2014-15 season. His double from space is as prolific as any attack in this weight. Mayes' power did not take a hit moving up from 141 to 149. I always feel like he could be beating guys by more and should win some matches he loses. That is what prevents me from slotting him in the finals against Retherford.

Jordan turned in a respectable freshman year for Ohio State at 141 pounds -- a weight that still seems preposterous for someone as big as Jordan. He made it like a champ all year long before fading late. Even still, if a few of his strange match tactics are altered (taking bottom against Randy Cruz),  I think he is an All-American. He was undefeated as a redshirt at 157 and 149 last year, so I'm anticipating no problems up a weight. Jordan can get to legs and he can get to them more than a few ways. He's got great conditioning, positioning, and a solid top game. His bottom work is not a strong suit, but he still won a ton of matches in spite of that and he'll continue to this year. Expect a big year for Jordan.

Alec Pantaleo had a nice spring and summer, making the Junior World team and competing in France. He placed as a true sophomore for Michigan. Pantaleo has a great combination of blink-of-an-eye attacks and ridiculous power. Additionally, few takedowns come easy against Pantaleo.

Part of me wonders if Solomon Chishko won't make his way back down to 141 this year, but I know the cut isn't easy for him. Like Jordan, Chishko had great success as a redshirt up at 149, and I don't expect him to have any issue up a weight. Solomon is great from short offense, has heavy hands and a very strong double/single leg. I had questions about Solomon coming into his true freshman year after watching him in high school. He's been a rock of consistency for two years. If he stays the course, I don't see it changing.

A little regression to the mean for Anthony Collica. I was extremely high on him a year ago, and he put it all together last year at NCAAs despite a rocky regular season. Though Collica was fourth last year and I have him finishing seventh this year, it's not like I'm predicting a major drop-off. He was the No. 11 seed last year at NCAAs for a reason.

I'm taking a bit of a flier on Ken Theobold. I loved his guts in bumping up to 157 for the match against Dylan Palacio last year (which he won). He also has knocked off CJ Cobb, Max Thomsen, and Alex Griffin. Not the most awe-inspiring list, but I like his talent.

In the round of 12, I'm probably an idiot for not including Justin Oliver on the podium. He was solid last year. We'll see what transpires. Pat Lugo, Christian Pagdilao and Thomsen are a strong group, but this bunch could easily be replaced by a trio of Matt Cimato, Mitch Finesilver and Davion Jeffries. They're all pretty close in my mind.

157

With Isaiah Martinez headed up to 165, it clears a lane for a new champion at 157. All signs point to Jason Nolf being that guy. The graduation of Nick Brascetta and Tommy Gantt combined with Chad Walsh transitioning to 165 leaves opportunities for young talent and established vets on the 157 podium.

Title Contenders:

Jason Nolf, Penn State
Dylan Palacio, Cornell
Joe Smith, Oklahoma State

I considered giving this one the "Zain treatment" with only one title contender.  But given Joe Smith's potential growth from true Freshman to sophomore, combined with the unknown element with DI's biggest wildcard, Dylan Palacio, lead me to have this list contain three. I've said it numerous times, and it bears repeating: Jason Nolf was hands down the most prolific bonus point scorer in the country last year.  He had two losses to IMAR, but apart from that he only had two wins by decision: Joe Smith (who he later majored) and Nick Brascetta (4-1).  

CP's Predictions:

1. Jason Nolf, Penn State
2. Joseph Smith, Oklahoma State
3. Dylan Palacio, Cornell
4. Michael Kemerer, Iowa
5. Max Rohskopf, NC State
6. Brian Murphy, Michigan
7. Joey LaVallee, Missouri
8. Larry Early III, Minnesota

Round of 12: Jordan Kutler, Lehigh; Richie Lewis, Rutgers; Tyler Berger, Nebraska; Jake Ryan, Ohio State

Another pretty simple pick for me. There's nobody who can win a point-scoring contest with this guy over seven minutes. Not in this field. His variety of attacks, turns, and counters make him a difficult problem to solve. Where are the holes to exploit? He'll give up a TD from time to time. Basically whoever beats him will have to sneak a TD and hold on. I just don't see anyone able to fend him off for seven minutes.

Joseph Smith has shown he can wrestle competitively with Nolf, even scoring a takedown against the Penn State stud last year. For a true freshman, the consistency Joseph showed was impressive. He never has a down match or a strange loss. Sometimes he wasn't as good as others, but he never let his wrestling dip below a certain level. When you consider the room he's in, his natural gifts and ability to get to legs, Smith can't be discounted.

Palacio behind Smith seems odd considering Dylan is 2-0 against Joe. I was wrong about their rematch last time around, and I could always be wrong again. I just think this time around, we'll see Smith adjust tactics (stop trying to ride Palacio) and keep it neutral. Smith can't scramble with Palacio, few can. I think Smith keeps it basic and neutral and wins. Palacio is the biggest wildcard for this weight. He does things that basically nobody else in the country does. He's probably the most dangerous bottom wrestler in the country and can scramble better than probably anyone not named Jason Nolf. That is the area that makes Palacio most interesting. If he can eat up large chunks of time in long scrambles, he could effectively shrink the match and make the bout about one key exchange. If he can do that against Nolf, maybe he pulls off the upset. Palacio is great from 2 on 1, it's his primary hold to get to legs. I look for a strong year for the L40 soldier.

Iowa fans are certainly excited for their new face at 157. Michael Kemerer hit the ground running last year while redshirting at 149 pounds. I'd be lying if I wasn't just a touch concerned that he's a 149-pounder wrestling up because of this Sorensen guy. What gives me confidence is his frame and the knowledge that putting on necessary size would be important coming into this year. What also quells my concerns is his offense. He can get to both legs incredibly well and is a fairly high percentage finisher. I do worry about how much he has to come out the backdoor. The NCAA field can neutralize a lot of those finishes with far ankle scrambles. He'll be solid enough there that I don't think that will be exploited. On top, he's more than serviceable with a strong ability to ride with turns to boot. He had wins over All-Americans last year as well as a number of other ranked opponents. Strong year coming for the Hawkeye.

Down a weight, Max Rohskopf could be problems. He gave guys issues with his strength as it was. The end of his season may cool some on his potential.  He's not going to beat good guys with leg attacks, so get that out of your head.  Where he can win is on top and with counters. That can only take you so far, but for Max, I think it lands him on the podium. If the cut is no big deal, he can do big things his senior season.
Brian Murphy is a delicious turkey sandwich. Sometimes people overlook turkey sandwiches and fall in love with the newest fads: wraps, bowls, etc. The turkey sandwich will always remain a fine, fine option. While we'll never order the turkey sandwich for our fancy dinner at Ruth's Chris, it will always be a healthy and tasty option. Brian has gotten it done at NCAAs the last two years. He's tough as heck, difficult to score on and has the ability to wrestle with almost anyone at this weight. He's not a sexy AA pick, but tell me why not to order this tasty option for lunch this year?

I mentioned Joey LaVallee as one of my sleepers this year, so I'll put my proverbial money where my mouth is. I like him to be better this year, and he was already pretty tough. Like the aforementioned turkey sandwich, he won't blow many people away. However, I think he does enough to place top eight this year.

Having LE3 in my top eight is by far my biggest gamble. First, the spot is far from guaranteed with No. 9 Jake Short in the mix and more than a solid option.  Second, his redshirt year wasn't inspirational. I think we'll see a more focused Early this year. His talent has never been an issue. He can scramble and attack legs well. Additionally, he's got some serious upper-body chops. For all I know, he won't start here, will go 165 and just be OK. I'm thinking otherwise.

For the round of 12, there's absolutely potential for all these guys to place. I really wavered on Kutler who, like Early, will have to beat out a tough, established teammate to start. I'm told he's looking fantastic right now, so watch out for him.  Lewis has knocked off tough guys like Brian Murphy in the past. There's no doubting his AA potential. Berger and Ryan may be a rung below, but remember they were just freshmen last year. Their arc is pointing up.

165

What a difference a year can make. A year ago, 165 was the weight I was the least interested in. It had an ironclad favorite in Alex Dieringer and it lacked depth in a major way.  This year, Dieringer is gone, Isaiah Martinez is up, and there's a handful of newcomers who will make this weight among my favorites of the year.

Title Contenders:

Isaiah Martinez, Illinois
Isaac Jordan, Wisconsin
Daniel Lewis, Missouri

I could have talked myself into more than a few more guys here. I think it's disrespectful to have a big list with a guy as good as IMAR in this field. With just one loss in two years, the two-time NCAA champion has earned that much respect. A point a few people have brought up to me is that IMAR could struggle more being a power-based wrestler moving up in weight. I don't view it that way at all. I view IMAR as a guy who will get to pack eight more pounds of muscle (power) onto his frame and he could be just as, if not more, dynamic than ever. Isaac Jordan, as a returning finalist with no holes in his game, is a no-brainer addition. The same can be said for Daniel Lewis, who is as talented as just about anyone at this weight. Lewis had only one bad lapse last year but otherwise only lost to Bo Jordan and Alex Dieringer.

CP's Predictions:

1. Isaiah Martinez, Illinois
2. Daniel Lewis, Missouri
3. Isaac Jordan, Wisconsin
4. Logan Massa, Michigan
5. Vincenzo Joseph, Penn State
6. Anthony Valencia, Arizona State
7. Alex Marinelli, Iowa
8. Chandler Rogers, Oklahoma State

Round of 12: Chad Walsh, Rider; Mitch Minotti, Lehigh; Austin Matthews, Edinboro; Cooper Moore, UNI

The standard IMAR set for himself coming into last year was astounding. The guy lost one match, and a main theme of much of the year was "what's wrong with IMAR?" Seeing him look not himself at Big Tens, yet find a way against Nolf in those finals, left me at a point where I don't know how I'd pick against him again. It's not just about the underhooks, the incredible arsenal of attacks, and the ridiculous body awareness. He's got unbelievable heart and guts. When you put it all in one 165-pound package, I think it's a recipe for another national title.

I've been on the Daniel Lewis train for well over a year now. I'm not hopping off either. I think he'll make another slight jump from year one to year two at Missouri. He's maybe the best top wrestler at this weight in terms of riding and turning. When he scoops your near ankle, see ya in two minutes -- you probably aren't going anywhere. If you go anywhere, it's probably to your back in a cradle. On his feet, he's got some serious power, freaky hips, and a strong double leg. He'll need to add to his variety of attacks to jump levels, and I think that's what we'll see. He's a tough guy to takedown, elite on top, and strong on his feet.  I think he jumps a spot over Isaac Jordan, though that is a coin flip match in my opinion. I went with the younger guy who is more likely to make leaps.

Jordan has been toward the top of the rankings for going on four years now. Last year, he was the best guy in the weight not named Alex Dieringer, and that was borne out when he made the finals, beating his cousin, Bo. He is actually very similar to Lewis: lanky and stingy on his feet, a strong single and very strong rider. Jordan's mean streak, toughness, and ability to win tight matches is what has me nervous about predicting Lewis over him. It's a slight risk, I realize.  

Now is where this weight gets really tricky. Mega-talent after mega-talent and you wonder just how high they can climb. I can see Logan Massa, Vincenzo Joseph, Anthony Valencia, Alex Marinelli, and Chandler Rogers all poaching a match against a top-three guy. What I'm not sold is on them stringing 3-4 straight against this field in March. Massa has been fantastic on both the freestyle scene as well as during his redshirt year. Choosing him over Joseph was not easy.  Both are outstanding, but Massa's ability to so consistently get to legs gave him the nod in my mind. He may not have the most amazing mat game, but I don't think he'll need it to be a real problem at 165.

It's possible that all things considered, Joseph is a better talent and prospect than Massa. When you consider the success Penn State has had in this weight range, it's hard to not bump Joseph a couple extra spots just because he's that good at that weight for that team. I still haven't seen him notch a relevant folkstyle win against this field. Since I have him at No. 5, it's obviously not a huge deal to me, but it is what keeps him out of the No. 4 spot. Joseph has incredible hips and one of the cleanest single legs you'll find. He also can threaten upper body. The Pennsylvania product notched wins over Valencia and Joe Smith this spring in freestyle. If Joseph is locked in, he'll have a big year.

Valencia is well over a year removed from his last folkstyle match. That doesn't give me too much pause, given his skill set. He can be hot and cold, I realize. But when he's on, he's lethal. Valencia is a bit predictable, but really he's got three good attacks that are better than a lot of people's No. 1. His power double is shockingly devastating, his misdirect single is great, and he's good for about one slide-by a match. He's good with short offense and throws, and on top he can ride and turn. Sometimes Valencia's emotions can get the best of him in a match, and that's what gives me pause and trepidation when I put him on the podium. However, the fears I may have about him on that front are outweighed by his incredible talent and skill.

No, I'm not breaking a story. These are predictions, right?  I'm predicting that Alex Marinelli wrestles this year attached for Iowa and that he's going to do quite well. I'd be stunned to see him in black and gold until Midlands is over, but this is the year for Iowa. You can't leave a bullet in the chamber this year. Marinelli and Iowa are a great fit. He uses physical hand fighting to open up his leg attacks and is adequately athletic considering. I'm not predicting a Myles Martin conclusion to Marinelli's season, but I think their years could be similar --  a strong regular season where he takes his lumps but gains momentum toward March where he'll be at his best and can make some noise.

Someone has to be eighth in this group. I went with Chandler Rogers with a low degree of certainty. I think he's fantastically talented. He throws all of the available kitchen sinks at you. He's got solid attacks, but where he really dazzles is upper body. He's got a variety of throws and trips at his disposal. He's a solid scrambler and can turn guys from top. Rogers was up at 174 last year, but I think he's a natural 165. Perhaps he'll be even more dynamic at his more natural weight.  We'll have to wait and see on that one. I can't believe how fun this weight is. Even though I separate Lewis and Jordan from the No. 4-8 bunch, I think that entire No. 2-8 group (really No. 9 with a very tough Chad Walsh getting just squeezed out) is super close. More important than that, it's the most entertaining group of guys. I think this will be the fans' favorite weight of the year -- I feel strongly it will be mine as well.

Apart from Walsh, who is outstanding, I think the other three in the round of 12 may be a rung behind. Of course, counting out a healthy Mitch Minotti in March is idiotic. I'm just not sure if he can get through a full year, so I hedged a bit with him. Cooper Moore and Austin Matthews are two guys I've always had high opinions of. I think their talent gets them wrestling for a spot on the podium.

174

This weight really snuck up on me. With Bo Nickal and Myles Martin headed up, I thought it'd be a little weaker than last year. It might actually be just as good, if not better. It was difficult to simply narrow down a list of title contenders. What I think we have with this weight are probably around 10, maybe more, guys who are all capable of beating one another. There is some separation, but it's slight. 

Title Contenders:

Bo Jordan, Ohio State
Zahid Valencia, Arizona State
Kyle Crutchmer, Oklahoma State
Brian Realbuto, Cornell
Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech
Nathan Jackson, Indiana

There are a few different ways to look at this. Personally, I think there's a divide in consistency and experience that necessitates where I draw the line. The name that could stick out I suppose is Zahid Valencia. I'm all in on him. His freestyle season answered any questions you could have. Some freestyle success can be taken with a grain of salt, but if you watch the matches and see how he's winning, there's no reason to keep him off this list. The remaining five on the list have all established themselves as elite, consistent competitors with strong track records of winning.  

CP's NCAA Predictions

1. Bo Jordan, Ohio State
2. Zahid Valencia, Arizona State
3. Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech
4. Kyle Crutchmer, Oklahoma State
5. Nathan Jackson, Indiana
6. Brian Realbuto, Cornell
7. Taylor Lujan, UNI
8. Nick Reenan, NC State

Round of 12: Lelund Weatherspoon, Iowa State; Zac Brunson, Illinois; Casey Kent, Penn; Alex Meyer, Iowa

In two years (really three, if you count his redshirt season), Bo Jordan has only fallen to Alex Dieringer and his cousin, Isaac Jordan. He's notched wins over Daniel Lewis and Nick Sulzer, among others. Jordan is a fantastic top wrestler and uses great pressure from hand-fighting and pulling on the head to set up strong, efficient leg attacks. His bottom wrestling will always make me a bit nervous, but look at this field: Where is the elite rider/turner? I think the move up will help his activity level as well. I'm as confident in this pick as I am others, but I think it's safe and representative of Bo's talent and consistency over the years.  

I'd be lying if I didn't say I had a suspicion Zahid Valencia could win this whole thing, and that I think he matches up pretty well against Bo. Zahid's incredible single leg would go to Bo's heavy lead leg. However, even if Zahid were able to earn a takedown, going seven minutes with Bo is a tough question to answer.  Zahid has incredible escapability when you attack his legs, especially in folkstyle. Getting two hands locked on a leg against him is very difficult, and even if you can, your problems have only begun. Combine that with a strong ability to ride and maybe the best leg attack in the field (his swing single), I think you've got a strong case for a freshman superstar.

Zach Epperly is a fairly safe pick to place, though his placement could go a number of directions. I picked him over Kyle Crutchmer in this spot for a few reasons. For one, he already has a head to head win. Beyond that, I think he's got more paths to victory. He can get to legs well, but he's also got really stingy defense that allows for go behinds and scores from front head. On the mat he is a requisite rider and can turn as well. He's now 2 for 2 in March in terms of putting it all together. Three for three is looking very possible, but this field could have more landmines than ever.

Crutch-daddy could very well play spoiler to the Bo/Zahid final. He's perhaps the best combo of power, speed, and variety of attacks from neutral we have in this field. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see him go against the entire field last year when his season was cut short due to injury. His paths to victory are pretty narrow -- he's not going to win because of his mat game. It all rides on his offense. Lucky for him, his offense is dang good.

Nathan Jackson was one of last years breakout stars in NCAA wrestling. He was more than just the Bo Nickal win, however.  He showed an elite ability at getting to legs with some interesting counter ability as well. He continues to improve, placing fifth at NCAAs last year. I don't think fifth is his ceiling, but I see him finishing in that realm.  

Brian Realbuto is a name that has rung out for years, but despite his success his first two years, his wins haven't been immaculate. Even going back to the year he made the finals, his best wins were over Mitch Minotti (who is very inconsistent) and Dylan Ness. You can count the Ian Miller quarterfinal, but I won't.  Last year, Realbuto's only win over an All-American was Casey Kent. He also beat a quality Blaise Butler. I don't think it's the weight that prohibited Realbuto from having success, but there's mounting evidence that he's very good but possibly not elite. In spite of all that, he's probably the best scrambler and turner in this weight and his high crotch is excellent as well.   

Yeah, I'm gettin a little reckless here it may seem, but when you consider how often we've seen the youth turn it on late, it shouldn't be that jarring. I am very excited to watch Nick Reenan wrestle at a weight where he'll actually weigh as much as the competition. A novel concept. Reenan is outstanding in the hand-fight and dangerous upper body. He'll need his leg attacks to improve, but his overall skill set and athleticism give me confidence.

I think Taylor Lujan will become a fan favorite this year. He's elite on top and has incredible feel in scrambles. Additionally, his big move potential will make him a threat against many of the major players at 174. Major motor + athleticism +  multiple paths to victory = Freshman All-American. At least in my mind. We'll get an early look at how Lujan stacks up against Epperly of Virginia Tech.  

The 174-pound class could be the best round of 12 of any weight -- I don't even have a guy of Ethan Ramos' caliber making the cut. Let me say first of all that having three All-Americans outside of the top eight is pretty rare. However, this is a weight where I see Nos. 5-13 cannibalizing themselves. Whoever is in the round of 12 or is that 13th guy will be overqualified for that spot, but there they'll be in March. My predictions have high potential to be completely turned on their heads, starting with my champion pick on down.  

Other guys I have high opinions of include Johny Sebastian, Shakur Rasheed (or Matt McCutcheon, perhaps?), Matt Reed (watch for the Keith Gavin effect) and the aforementioned Ramos.

184

When's the last time 184 wasn't brutal? I was talking with someone about this. It's really incredible how difficult this weight is year after year. This year is no exception. It will feature two NCAA champions, two other NCAA finalists, and six other All-Americans. The road to an NCAA title or even All-American status will be a difficult proposition filled with land mines early on.

Title Contenders:

Gabe Dean, Cornell
Bo Nickal, Penn State
Myles Martin, Ohio State

Probably a shorter list than most would expect. Many may cry out for TJ Dudley, Nolan Boyd, or even Pat Downey's inclusion. I was tempted with all three, but both have dropped matches that give me pause, though their talent is immense. If you include a Downey, Dudley, and Boyd, you then should probably include Zack Zavatsky, Willie Miklus, and Sammy Brooks. Now what's even the point of the list? Gabe Dean can drop matches -- we know this. However, we've seen him raise his game every NCAAs. Even when he was a freshman, people forget how close he was to beating Ed Ruth at NCAAs. Bo Nickal is as big a threat to Dean as anybody. Stylistically, I think he's the toughest match up for the Dean of Mean. The finish to Myles Martin's season has to have every other coach sweating at the prospect of how good he could be. Getting it done puts you on this list.

CP's Predictions:

1. Bo Nickal, Penn State
2. Gabe Dean, Cornell
3. Myles Martin, Ohio State
4. Timothy Dudley, Nebraska
5. Pat Downey, Iowa State
6. Zack Zavatsky, Virginia Tech
7. Sammy Brooks, Iowa
8. Nolan Boyd, Oklahoma State

Round of 12: Willie Miklus, Missouri; Domenic Abounader, Michigan, Jack Dechow, ODU; Nick Gravina, Rutgers

This may shock a lot of people given: 1. How excellent Dean has been. 2. How Nickal seemed to struggle at the end of last year and into the freestyle season. It's all about matchups for me. Dean is incredibly re-attack reliant. He is an incredible hand-fighter who forces guys out of position and into bad shots -- that's where Gabe eats. I don't see that strategy working against Nickal. Dean can struggle with the more lanky/scrambly guys (though I view Gabe as an underrated scrambler). His last three losses were to Nolan Boyd, Hayden Zillmer, and Taylor Meeks. Nickal could have a Quentin Wright-esque sophomore campaign. Maybe there will be a few lapses, but his upper body chops, hooks, scrambling, and top game will get him on top in March. I just have faith that PSU coach Cael Sanderson and company will get him over the hump. It's a tough decision to make considering Nickal didn't win a worse weight. Dean won a brutal weight twice. I just don't think Nickal has reached his full potential yet.

I'm curious how people will react to this prediction. Is it insane? I've been shouting about Dean's excellence for a few years now, including coming into his freshman season. There aren't a lot of guys who have their very best years in year five. The wear and tear of four NCAA seasons plus lots of film can make things harder on a wrestler. Dean wins with his physicality and pressure. Very few can stand up to it, and nobody can stand in the middle and bang with him at this weight. So you need someone who is a complete curveball to Gabe's style. I think that's Nickal. Even a few years ago, we saw the two were pretty close to one another at the Junior World Team Trials. Dean's re-attacks are probably the best of any guy at any weight. His snatch single is a great, safe attack, and in a pinch he has a nice high crotch or double.

For an NCAA champion, Myles Martin is quite the wildcard himself. My take on someone who gets red hot at the end of the year is that that level will be maintained and elevated moving forward. I believe that will be the case for Myles. I think third is a reasonable slot considering the season he had last year. Despite the win, I still view Nickal as a very tough matchup for Myles moving forward. Against Dean, I think Myles will struggle to break through his head/hands. He looked plenty big at 184, so I don't anticipate size being an issue. While I have him placing high, Myles could be in for a few losses this year. But I think he'll have it worked out by March, again.

Dudley, like a few guys, has the potential to play spoiler to the whole thing. I just worry about Dudley's consistency. The floor/ceiling with Dudley has more variance than probably anyone in the field. When you're on his leg, he's as tough to takedown as anyone. He uses a slide by as well as anyone in the country and can be tough on top with cradles. I like Dudley, but not sure I can pick him to make a run like he did last year.

Speaking of wildcards, Pat Downey is as tough a guy to prognosticate as any. The talent has never been a question. At 184, I wonder how the cut will be for months on end. He's enormous. Additionally, evaluating his season a year ago is difficult when you consider how few matches he wrestled. I'm going purely on upside here. His ability to threaten upper body makes him dangerous to anyone in the field. This could end horribly, but I'm predicting a nice year for Downey.

Zavatsky, aka ZZ Top, was among the more impressive guys off the podium a year ago. With two wins over NCAA third-placer Pete Renda, a win over Miklus, Boyd, Zilmer and more, there's a lot of reasons to think the now sophomore will have a nice year for Virginia Tech. As the nickname would suggest, Zavatsky is great from the top position. More than that, he has multiple attacks from neutral. His speed and ability to get to legs quickly are very impressive. He's also a tough takedown when you get to his legs.

Zack Zavatsky downs Miklus at Cliff Keen Las Vegas:

Brooks has found himself in this 7-12 range the last two years, and I think that's about where he winds up this year. Is Brooks a guy who can jump up and beat a top 4-5 guy? Absolutely. He's been that for a few years now. However, I have my doubts about his ability to string it together for three straight days. Still, he's a maniac on his feet with his underhooks and pace. On top, he's a great turner with tilts. His motor and ability to get to a single will carry him by much of the field, but his upside is limited, perhaps only by himself.

For Boyd to go from fourth to eighth may be perceived as a slight, but it's about where he falls against this field. He can beat the best of the best: Gabe Dean. Boyd just tends to give up a few too many points for my liking. I love how often he attacks, and he's a great story. Boyd is completely unheralded and beats prized recruits Jordan Rogers and Kyle Crutchmer out of a spot initially and continues to develop and becomes a NCAA fourth-place finisher. I think he can get close to that, but ultimately I think he's right around that No. 8 range.

In another super-salty round of 12, Miklus is someone who has been able to get it done in back-to-back years. His wins aren't stunning, and he takes some losses, but he shows up in March. Abounader, like Miklus, has gotten it done before. While Abounader has beaten Zavatsky twice, I'm still on the fence if he can do it again. In another weight, sure. This weight takes no prisoners. I think the newcomers and young guys like Zavatsky push the Wolverine just off the podium.

197

While the No. 1 spot for 197 pounds may not be in question, this weight could be an absolute game changer for the NCAA team landscape. A contending team that enters a quality competitor could see huge dividends. What I believe we'll also see in this weight is new names who climb up the rankings quickly. Any young talent will stand out in this weight, quickly.

Title Contenders:

J'den Cox, Missouri

Apologies to the rest of the field, but I can't put anyone else on this list. The one guy you could consider is Brett Pfarr. He was pinned by Cox and lost a very controlled 4-1 match. Maybe someone emerges and contends, but I don't see them coming if they're out there.

CP's Predictions:

1. J'den Cox, Missouri
2. Brett Pfarr, Minnesota
3. Jared Haught, Virginia Tech
4. Brett Harner, Princeton
5. Aaron Studebaker, Nebraska
6. Preston Weigel, Oklahoma State
7. Kollin Moore, Ohio State
8. Malik McDonald, NC State

Round of 12: Marcus Harrington, Iowa State; Jake Smith, WVU; Ryan Wolfe, Rider; Nathan Rotert, SDSU

Nothing too terribly riveting here. If Cox wants the Hodge Trophy, this is the field to do it against in terms of bonus points. I wonder if anyone will be able to take down Cox this entire season. I doubt he gave up many (if any) a year ago. I bet the same will be true this year. Remember, he was taken down exactly zero times in the Rio Olympics. Every match is a must watch with Cox, because he will probably do something or try something you haven't seen before. An undefeated year is coming for Cox.

J'den Cox Ep. 1 | Ep. 2

Brett Pfarr is on his own island here, I believe. He won't be able to take out J'den, but I'd really be surprised if he dropped a match to anyone else in this field.  He really found his stride up at 197. He wrestles an aggressive style, frequently mixing it up with leg attacks and great counters. He's also a very strong top wrestler. Combine that with the standard-issue Minnesota gas tank, and you've got a guy primed for the NCAA finals.

Starting with Jared Haught, we could begin to see some guys able to knock each other off. Haught came on strong last year beating his longtime nemesis Conner Hartmann along with Aaron Studebaker of Nebraska. Haught has a good motor and a fantastic single leg. When you watch him fire it off, you wonder why he doesn't shoot it more often. He made a huge jump from his freshman to sophomore season. Even if he makes a jump about half as much this year, he could put himself in contention for the finals.  

Brett Harner was Princeton's breakthrough performer last year. The big man's move up from 184 pounds paid off. Though he suffered losses to both Ryan Wolfe and Michael Woulfe (seriously), those losses aren't so big and bad (I can't stop). Look for Harner to huff and puff his way to another All-American finish.

Studebaker has been a rock for Nebraska the last few years, but he has just fallen short. Studebaker isn't the biggest 197 around, but he's got very solid leg attacks. I don't see many guys with the tank and point-scoring potential of Studebaker.  

Preston Weigel was a late solution for Oklahoma State, but he came on extremely strong at the end. Weigel knocked off Pat Downey, Jake Smith, Sam Wheeler, and Nate Rotert. For his size, Weigel can really scramble and is a tough top wrestler. He is still young too -- people forget he's just a sophomore. There is a lot more time to improve.

Kollin Moore's name didn't start to ring out to the wrestling public until his run to the Junior World team. However, I have been hearing great stuff about the Buckeye since he first got on campus. Moore has a tremendous drive and work ethic. Combine that with pretty strong natural ability and upside, and there's a lot to be excited about. He's got some weird takedowns, including a drag/trip combo that I haven't seen much outside of little league rooms in rural Virginia.  However, it works for him, and it works against good guys. I mentioned this weight having a huge potential impact on the team race. For teams like Ohio State and Oklahoma State, there are some real opportunities. Moore isn't a superstar at this point, but he could be a difference maker for Ohio State.

I'm taking a flier on McDonald. I was able to watch him a lot during my time at N.C. State. The coaching staff is especially high on him. He's got great size and will turn some heads from the top position this year. There are a number of guys in the Moore/McDonald tier. I've been consistently favoring the younger, unproven guys. We'll find out in March if that thinking is accurate.

I'll say this, it is a tad disingenuous to not have Matt McCutcheon included in any rankings. I firmly believe he gets in the lineup somewhere and has an impact.  I'd probably predict him to place at this weight. If he ends up down at 174, I think he is an impact guy as well. For my round of 12, Marcus Harrington, Jake Smith, Nathan Rotert, and Wolfe all have All-American potential. The prospect of Harrington is especially intriguing. If he emerged as a top 5-6 guy this year, I wouldn't be stunned given his skill set.

285

No NCAA wrestler will enter the 2016-17 season with more fanfare and attention than Ohio State's Kyle Snyder. A number of talented big men will attempt to dethrone Snyder, but they ultimately will battle for second place. As we come down the home stretch, this is another weight that could dramatically shift the team race.  

Title Contender:

Kyle Snyder, Ohio State

There's only a handful of people in the world who can go with Kyle Snyder, and none of them are in this field. It is interesting to note that Snyder was taken down by Ty Walz last year. However, one takedown isn't going to get the job done. Neither will two (ask Nick Gwiazdowski). Connor Medbery and Walz would be strong title contenders in many years. Their timing is just a bit unfortunate.  

CP's Predictions:
1. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State
2. Connor Medbery, Wisconsin
3. Ty Walz, Virginia Tech
4. Amar Dhesi, Oregon State
5. Sam Stoll, Iowa
6. Michael Kroells, Minnesota
7. Nick Nevills, Penn State
8. Tanner Hall, Arizona State

Round of 12: Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State; Nathan Butler, Stanford; Brooks Black, Illinois; Billy Miller, Edinboro

The biggest question for me coming into the season for Snyder is how much we'll see him. Will he travel with the team? Or will he do a modified season as he did last year, ramping up at the end of the season for a few duals, Big Tens and NCAAs. Last year, he went to the Yarygin and Medved to wrestle freestyle overseas. In addition to having the best and safest leg attacks in the game and incredible head/hands, Snyder has an impressive gas tank and strength. Not many heavies can handle his seven-minute pace. He won't be a bonus machine like Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf, etc., but he's not going to be touched. He will be an undefeated champ.

Choosing between Medbery and Walz was the toughest decision of this weight. Medbery won the last meeting, and though Walz has improved substantially, I still lean Medbery. He is as athletic as anyone in this weight, with ability to fire strong attacks from ties and space. I think Medbery is a takedown better than Walz, and that will ultimately be the difference.  

Walz made huge leaps from his sophomore to his junior year. His high crotch is one of the best in the country, and his snatch and low single are also very strong. Outside of Snyder, I'm not sure any heavy has Walz's variety of leg attacks.  

Maybe Amar Dhesi should be in the conversation with Walz and Medbery. He's as athletic as anyone in this field. I just haven't seen the elite wins and losses with him compared with a Medbery and Walz. Dhesi fell to Joseph Fagiano and Tanner Hall last year, and though Dhesi came on strong at the end, he placed without notching a real confidence-instilling win.  

If Sam Stoll is back and healthy, he will be right in the mix for a top-five finish. He was squarely in the top eight or so toward the end of the year but hurt his knee against Gwiazdowski and wasn't the same. He doesn't have the go-to leg attacks you'd like to see, but he's good for one really clean shot per match.  Combining his foot speed and size, Stoll could have a good year for Iowa. He knocked off Michael Kroells last year along with Billy Smith. Any errant shots against Stoll get punished as he can get to the corner very quickly.

Michael Kroells has kept the tradition of quality Minnesota heavyweights alive with back-to-back All-American finishes. Kroells is as active as any heavy in the field. He fires off a high volume of attacks and relies on his speed/athleticism to earn wins. I don't think he'll reach the upper echelon with Snyder/Medbery/Walz, but he's good for another podium finish. 

Despite his injury history, I still think good days are ahead for Nick Nevills. His skill and athleticism are still present, and he's in a great training situation at Penn State. While there are still questions if he can be healthy for an entire season, I think he's due for some regression back to the mean in that area. If it happens, he can skill for skill compete with a lot of the best heavies. He's someone with the upside to potentially place higher than this. I'm just not ready to go there until we see him on the mat in one piece.

For being off the mat for several years, Hall came back and wrestled quite well. The Arizona State heavy fell to Walz and Dhesi (who he beat earlier at Midlands) to not place at NCAAs. With a full year under his belt and well-documented talent and pedigree, Hall is one of the toughest top-eight wrestlers in the weight.  

I could see any of the four wrestlers in the round of 12 predictions in the No. 7 or No. 8 spot. Brooks Black came on hot late, and Denzel Dejournette has been knocking on the door the past two years. Billy Miller is a little out of nowhere, but a talent like him with another year of experience could yield some improvement.

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