AJ Ferrari announced that he will transfer to the University of North Carolina and compete for the Tar Heels next season. 

AJ Ferrari is going to Chapel Hill! The NCAA champ and 2025 3rd placer announced on FRL that he will transfer to North Carolina and wrestle for the Tar Heels! pic.twitter.com/F1PDoe89x2

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 7, 2025

Ferrari won the 197-pound NCAA title as a true freshman in 2021 for Oklahoma State. Ferrari then started the next season 10-0 before being involved in a serious car accident that left him injured. In July of 2022, Ferrari was dismissed from the Cowboy wrestling team and then spent almost the entirety of the next two college wrestling seasons off the mat. However, Ferrari returned to college wrestling this year competing for Cal-State Bakersfield. He proved he is still one of the best wrestlers in the country, and ultimately placed third at the 2025 NCAA Tournament at 197 pounds. 

Ferrari has at least 2 years of eligibility remaining and could potentially compete for three more years if his 2021-22 season is approved for a medical redshirt. Ferrari will likely slot in at 197 pounds for the Tar Heels but there is a chance he could transition to heavyweight. Regardless of the weight class, Ferrari will make a major impact in Chapel Hill and will be a title contender at the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 

Hear from AJ Ferrari after his third-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Tournament: