If you had to pick one men’s college weight class to follow over the next four seasons, 184 pounds is a good place to start.

Sure, five-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci graduated after one season at the weight, as did five-time All-American, three-time national finalist, and 2024 NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen. All-Americans Dustin Plott, Chris Foca, Donnell Washington, and Edmond Ruth have also departed. 

That leaves a crop of young talent ready to take over. So, what’s the big deal?

For starters, Max McEnelly. The Minnesota sophomore only dropped two matches last season, taking Starocci and Keckeisen into sudden victory. His recent U20 World title adds to his shine.

Next, there’s Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari. He went 10-1 during his true freshman campaign, dropping a 3-1 match against Starocci and securing a win over NCAA finalist Dustin Plott during the Oklahoma State dual. His colorful and entertaining style should make him a fan favorite for years to come. 

How about Rocco Welsh? The Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, native reached the 2024 NCAA tournament finals at 174 pounds as a true freshman for Ohio State before a 15-0 redshirt season. Welsh transferred to Penn State and locked down a spot filled by Aaron Brooks and Starocci in four of the past five seasons. 

Oh, and then there is Jaxon Smith (Maryland) and Silas Allred (Nebraska), returning 2025 All-Americans. Allred was part of the Cornhuskers’ second-place finish — a high-water mark for the program — and his points will be crucial this season as Nebraska makes a run. 

Don’t forget Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State), Brock Mantanona (Michigan), and James Rowley (Purdue). All three have at least one medal from an age-level World Championships. And that doesn’t include Aedon Sinclair (Missouri) and Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia), who have made age-level World teams. 

Also throw in Dylan Fishback (Ohio State), Isaac Dean (Iowa State), Aidan Brenot (NDSU), Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers), and Brian Soldano (Oklahoma) — all of whom have finished in the Round of 16 or better at the NCAA Championships. 

That’s 15 wrestlers and, if you know how the NCAA tournament works, only eight stand on the podium and two reach the finals. More than one will be on the outside looking in, and many of the top wrestlers are freshmen or sophomores. 

Hold on tight. This will be a wild ride. 

NCAA Weight Class Preview

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

Returning 2025 All-Americans

Max McEnelly (Minnesota), SO — 3rd
Jaxon Smith (Maryland), SR — 6th
Silas Allred (Nebraska), SR — 7th

Past All-Americans

Rocco Welsh (Penn State), SO — (2nd, 2024)

Key Departures

Carter Starocci (Penn State) — 5x All-American (1st-1st-1st-1st-1st)
Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) — 5x All-American (3rd-3rd-2nd-1st-2nd)
Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) — 4x All-American (6th-6th-2nd-4th)
Chris Foca (Cornell) — 2x All-American (3rd-5th)
Donnell Washington (Indiana) — 1x All-American (8th)
Edmond Ruth (Illinois) — 1x All-American (7th)

Entering From Redshirt/Injury/Transfer/Other

Angelo Ferrari (Iowa), FR
Rocco Welsh (Penn State), SO — transferred from Ohio State
Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State), FR — transferred from Penn State
Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri), FR
Brock Mantanona (Michigan), FR
Brian Soldano (Oklahoma), SR — transferred from Rutgers
James Conway (Franklin & Marshall), SR
Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia), SR
Dylan Fishback (Ohio State), JR — transferred from NC State
Isaac Dean (Iowa State), SR — transferred from Rider

Age-Level World Championship Experience

The Favorite: Max McEnelly (Minnesota)

Although this weight class is deep, McEnelly earned his spot as the pre-season favorite. His recent U20 World title included a clutch semifinal takedown with less than 30 seconds left for a 5-5 criteria win. 

Winning tough, gritty matches is an important trait as the Waconia, Minnesota, native navigates an impressive field. 

“I know everyone is looking forward to that 184-pound bracket, but it’s going to be fun, and I’m coming to take it,” McEnelly said after winning the U20 World Championships. “It’s going to be awesome.” 

McEnelly’s 25-2 college record speaks for itself. He dropped sudden victory matches to Starocci and Keckeisen last season, but defeated everyone else. He had 19 bonus point wins, but four victories went into overtime, and his consolation finals match at the NCAA Championships was a 6-5 triumph over Plott. He also defeated Foca, 10-7, at nationals. 

Watch Max McEnelly's gold medal match at the 2025 U20 World Championships

Title Contenders

Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
Rocco Welsh (Penn State)

Ferrari created lots of buzz last season as a true freshman, even though he didn’t compete in the postseason. He won the Grand View Open and Soldier Salute, and went 2-1 in varsity duals. His 6-3 win over Plott in sudden victory during the Oklahoma State dual sent Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a frenzy, and it showed off his sweep single and his otherworldly scrambling. His win made the ultimate difference in a 21-16 victory over Oklahoma State. 

Welsh dominated almost everyone during his redshirt season, but had a 4-2 over Conway in the Franklin & Marshall Open finals. His 2024 NCAA tournament finals run included a 4-2 opening win followed by three consecutive 4-1 wins in sudden victory before a 2-0 setback against Starocci. Winning close matches is crucial, especially against a highly competitive field. 

Even his losses as a true freshman were competitive, falling to Starocci twice by two points (4-2, 2-0), once to returning NCAA champion Shane Griffith (2-1), and twice to Edmond Ruth (2-1, 4-1 SV). 

McEnelly, Ferrari, and Welsh are the clear frontrunners — for now. 

It was pandemonium when Ferrari upset returning national finalist Dustin Plott in sudden victory.

All-American Threats

Jaxon Smith (Maryland)
Silas Allred (Nebraska)
Dylan Fishback (Ohio State)
Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State)
Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri)

There are plenty of All-American threats, but five are listed since — along with the three title contenders — it rounds out to eight. 

Smith and Allred are obvious since they’ve been there before. Dropping down a weight did the trick for Smith after two varsity seasons at 197. He qualified for nationals twice, finishing sixth in 2025 at 184 with an 8-1 win over Allred in the consolations. 

Fishback is in that oh-so-close-by-not-quite-an-All-American category. He reached the Round of 12 at the past two NCAA Championships for North Carolina State, and needs one more big win to get over the hump. He could see McEnelly, Walsh, Ferrari, Smith, and Allred multiple times this season, so the task is tall but doable. 

Ryder could be a title contender after an 8-0 true freshman season for Penn State with victories over All-American TJ Stewart (Virginia Tech) and national qualifiers Deanthony Parker (Oklahoma), Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers), and Brian Soldano (Oklahoma via Rutgers), but, unlike Ferrari, doesn’t have a signature college win — yet. 

Sinclair was 8-4 as a true freshman, with eight matches at 197. He dropped an 18-7 match to Plott during a February 2 dual, but can close the gap with an anticipated first-round match against Ferrari at the National Duals Invitational on November 15. 

Zack Ryder notched a fall over All-American TJ Stewart at the 2025 Southern Scuffle

Sleepers And Dark Horses

Brock Mantanona (Michigan)
Isaac Dean (Iowa State)
Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia)

There aren’t many sleepers with 15 wrestlers listed above. This is a competitive weight, so no one should be overlooked, but here are three to keep an eye on. 

Mantanona is moving up from 165 and is an offensive juggernaut. If anything, he will provide some wildly entertaining matches. And he’s also good. Dean was 25-9 for Rider last season but hasn’t reached the blood round, so he can prove he belongs during his senior season. He’ll have Ryder, Sinclair, and Brenot to contend with at the Big 12 Championships. Ayzerov went 0-2 at the 2024 NCAA Championships, but it feels like he’s ready to cut loose — as much as you can in a weight class this deep. 

What About Oklahoma State?

It’s worth noting that Ryder should have in-house competition for the starting spot. Brayden Thompson competed at the 2024 NCAA Championships as a 174-pound true freshman, going 0-2, but was 9-0 during a redshirt season. Sophomore Jersey Robb was 0-3 in varsity duals as a true freshman but was highly touted out of high school. 

What About Iowa?

Gabe Arnold started at 184 pounds last season, going 2-2 at nationals, but Ferrari is the presumed starter. Where does Arnold fit? He could try his hand at 174, where All-American Patrick Kennedy is, or move up to 197 and challenge Massoma Endene, a three-time D3 NCAA champion for Wartburg. Or, stay at 184. 

Pre-season 184-pound Predictions

1. Max McEnelly (Minnesota)
2. Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
3. Rocco Welsh (Penn State)
4. Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State)
5. Silas Allred (Nebraska)
6. Jaxon Smith (Maryland)
7. Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri)
8. Dylan Fishback (Ohio State)