Welcome to the next generation of college heavyweights. 

Exit the massive, athletic heavyweight with loads of international and college credentials. Gone are World champions Wyatt Hendrickson, Gable Steveson, Greg Kerkvliet, and Cohlton Schultz, who combined for four NCAA titles, seven finals appearances, and 17 All-American honors. 

Enter the undersized, athletic heavyweight, many of whom competed at 197 during their careers. 

FloWrestling’s top three 285-pounders fit that description, highlighted by top-ranked AJ Ferrari (Nebraska) — a 2021 NCAA champion at 197 pounds who finished third in 2025. He’ll be chased by #2 Isaac Trumble (NC State), a two-time 197-pound national qualifier, and #3 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), a 2022 All-American at 197 pounds. 

No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) had a brief stint there as a redshirt freshman, and Ohio State’s #6 Nick Feldman is only 5’ 11”.

Sure, there are a few full-sized top-tier heavyweights in the field, but the light 285-pounders are leading the way — for now. 

Ferrari only has two career college losses, and his move to 285 pounds made noise in the off-season. The Allen, Texas, native began his career at Oklahoma State, winning as a true freshman, before getting injured in a car crash the following season. He emerged at Cal State-Bakersfield after a two-year hiatus, falling to Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan in the NCAA Championship semifinals. 

Trumble finished fourth at the 2025 NCAA Championships, falling to Hendrickson and Schultz, who accounted for five of his seven losses last season. The Springfield, Nebraska, native reached the 97 kg (214 pounds) best-of-three finals at the 2024 Olympic Trials, falling to 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Snyder.

Bastida entered the 2024 NCAA Championships undefeated, with an impressive 10-7 win over Hendrickson in the Big 12 finals. He fell 6-4 to Lucas Davison (Michigan) in the quarterfinals and lost in consolations, finishing outside the top eight. At his best, Bastida can defeat anyone. 

There are plenty of age-level World medalists in the field, too — highlighted by four World champions (Trumble, Kueter, Amos, and Hopke). The depth is there, but not at the unprecedented levels of the past five years. 

NCAA Weight Class Preview

125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285 

Age-Level World Championship Experience

Returning 2025 All-Americans

AJ Ferrari, JR (Nebraska) — 3rd at 197
Isaac Trumble, SR (NC State) — 4th
Ben Kueter, SO (Iowa) — 8th

Past All-Americans

Yonger Bastida, SR (Iowa State) — 5th in 2022 at 197
Taye Ghadiali, SR (Michigan) — 8th in 2024
Nick Feldman, JR (Ohio State) — 5th in 2024

Key Departures

Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) — 3x All-American (3rd-3rd-1st)
Gable Steveson (Minnesota) — 4x All-American (3rd-1st-1st-2nd)
Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) — 5x All-American (7th-4th-2nd-1st-6th)
Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) — 5x All-American (4th-2nd-7th-6th-3rd)
Owen Trephan (Lehigh) — All-American (5th)
Josh Heindselman (Michigan) — All-American (7th)
Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) — All-American (7th)

Entering From Redshirt/Injury/Other

Yonger Bastida, SR, (Iowa State)
Taye Ghadiali, SR (Michigan)
Nathan Taylor, JR (Lehigh)
Cole Mirasola, FR (Penn State)
Braxton Amos, JR (Wisconsin)
Koy Hopke, FR (Minnesota)
Christian Carroll, SO (Wyoming)
Wyatt Voelker, JR (Northern Iowa) — moving up from 197

The Favorite: AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)

It’s hard to bet against Ferrari given his track record and body of work. His wins at the NCAA Championships aren’t always blowouts (he has one bonus point victory in 11 matches), but he is a proven winner. His speed and strength will be difficult for opponents to overcome, even if he is lighter at times. It will be interesting to see how his bruising top game translates at heavyweight, but precision and misdirection from the neutral position will be his friends as he takes on the field. 

This is Ferrari’s weight to win. 

AJ Ferrari At The NCAA Championships

The Contenders

Isaac Trumble (NC State)
Yonger Bastida (Iowa State)
Ben Kueter (Iowa)
Taye Ghadiali (Michigan)
Nick Feldman (Ohio State)
Luke Luffman (Illinois)

Trumble reached the podium in 2025 at heavyweight after two misses at 197 pounds. He had wins over everyone he faced last season except for Hendrickson, so he will be a formidable challenge for Ferrari and the field. Trumble will be even more seasoned and calibrated after a season of heavyweight competition under his belt, so don’t be surprised if he garners top honors by season’s end. 

Bastida could also make a run, but he is returning from an injury for his final college season. His best college success has been at heavyweight, with a hit list that includes Hendrickson, Schultz, Davison, Feldman, Zach Elam, Josh Heidselman, and Dayton Pitzer. A match between Bastida and Ferrari is intriguing since Ferrari commits to the ride. It’s imperative that the Cyclone star scores takedowns early and often as he seeks an NCAA title. 

Kueter didn’t fare well last season against the Big Four: Hendrickson, Steveson, Kerkvliet, and Schultz. Of his nine losses, only Bastida and Luffman return. And, remember, Kueter is a U20 World champion and silver medalist. The Hawkeye sophomore has the tools, and his length and size are unique within this crop of heavyweights. His three wins over Feldman are an indication of what he can do. 

Ghadiali was 4-2 last season, with losses to Steveson (20-5) and Trumble (2-1) before getting sidelined with an injury. He transferred from Campbell to Michigan in the off-season, finishing eighth at the 2024 NCAA Championships. He has a few big wins, including an 8-3 victory over Feldman at the 2024 All-Star Classic, but his mettle will be tested during a Big Ten schedule. 

Feldman is a shorter heavyweight who relies on low-level attacks and has only lost to All-Americans during contested matches last season. He struggled with bigger college heavyweights during his first two seasons, but that will be less of an issue as he enters his junior campaign.

Illinois head coach said that he and Luffman laugh at the disrespect the Illini senior gets, given that he has wins over Schultz, Kueter, Trent Hilger, and Cole Mirasola. The Urbana, Illinois, native was 19-8 last season and was a win away from reaching the podium. As one of the bigger heavyweights in the field, Luffman is a legitimate contender. He just has to prove it over three days in March. 

Feldman and Ghadiali faced off at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic

All-American Threats

Cole Mirasola (Penn State)
Nathan Taylor (Lehigh)
Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh)

Mirasola could be a title contender as the season progresses, but, for now, he is an All-American threat. He was 6-2 as a true freshman, dropping matches to Luffman and Feldman. The Jackson, Wisconsin, native replaces five seasons of Greg Kerkliet as the starter. 

Taylor returns from an injury, but was Round of 12 at the 2024 NCAA Championships, falling in sudden victory to Ghadiali and Schultz. Pitzer reached the Round of 12 in 2025, with career wins over Luffman, Trumble, Schultz, Hilger, and Jim Mullen. 

Sleepers and Dark Horses

Koy Hopke (Minnesota)
Braxton Amos (Wisconsin)
Christian Carroll (Wyoming)
Jim Mullen (Virginia Tech)

Hopke is an age-level World champion with a high ceiling but no college experience. Minnesota is Heavyweight U, so we’ll see how Brandon Eggum and his staff can develop their next heavyweight. 

Amos was injured for two seasons, but history shows that 197-pounders have success moving up. It’s hard to know if the Mineral Wells, West Virginia, native is healthy, but he cut hard to make 197, and extra weight could be an advantage.

Christian Carroll has dabbled at 197 and 285 but will wrestle at heavyweight after stints at Oklahoma State and Iowa State. He has a big upside, but consistency is key when he competes for Wyoming. 

Mullen is another wrestler with age-level success. The Hokie sophomore can prove he belongs with a breakout season. 

Braxton Amos won the 2021 Junior Freestyle World Championships with a five-point throw. 

Pre-season 285-pound Predictions

1. AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)
2. Isaac Trumble (NC State)
3. Yonger Bastida (Iowa State)
4. Ben Kueter (Iowa)
5. Taye Ghadiali (Michigan)
6. Nick Feldman (Ohio State)
7. Luke Luffman (Illinois)
8. Cole Mirasola (Penn State)