Nebraska finished in 10th place at the 2019 NCAA tournament scoring 51.0 points, just a half point behind 9th place Rutgers. Nebraska will graduate 19.5 points from the NCAAs, scored all by 157-pounder Tyler Berger. The Huskers will also lose 125-pounder Zeke Moisey who is also out of eligibility. 

That will leave Nebraska with a solid group of six qualifiers and 31.5 NCAA points coming back. Among those returning qualifiers are three All-Americans from 2019: 141-pounder Chad Red (8.5 points), 165-pounder Isaiah White (10 points)  and 174-pounder Mikey Labriola (9-points). 2018 All-American Taylor Venz also returns at 184-pounds. Venz lost in the bloodround this past season.

2019-20 Nebraska Projected Lineup

125: Alex Thomsen

133: Jevon Parrish or Tucker Sjomeling

141: Chad Red

149: Collin Purinton or Kevon Davenport

157: Peyton Robb

165: Isaiah White

174: Mikey Labriola

184: Taylor Venz

197: Eric Schultz

285: David Jensen

125 Pounds

With the graduation of two-time All-American Zeke Moisey, Alex Thomsen should step right in and start after taking a redshirt this past season. Nebraska is lacking in depth at 125 pounds at this point for next season so it will be imperative that Thomsen stays healthy during the Huskers' grueling Big Ten schedule.

133 Pounds

Unlike 125 pounds, Nebraska has some depth at 133. Jevon Parrish came out of redshirt in the middle of January and struggled in duals but got some on-the-job experience that helped him have a respectful Big Ten tournament where he won three matches. Tucker Sjomeling was the starter before Parrish took over and had a good year as well, winning 15 matches. These two should battle again this next season for the starting spot.

141 Pounds

In his first two seasons as a starter, Chad Red finished on the podium in March. Red will drop a match or two during the season that you don’t expect him to, but he is dangerous and I wouldn’t bet against him to once again find his way onto the podium in Minnesota.

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149 Pounds

Collin Purinton should get the opportunity to secure the starting job with the departure of Jordan Shearer to medical school. Purinton is a veteran who was a starter back in the 2016-17 season. True freshman Kevon Davenport could be an option if Purinton has early struggles. Nebraska has shown they are not afraid to pull a redshirt if it will help the team.

157 Pounds

Certainly the biggest spot to fill will be 157 pounds with the graduation of three-time All-American and national finalist Tyler Berger.  Peyton Robb could be the guy that Nebraska turns to. Robb won over 20 matches in his redshirt season but the majority of those wins were against non-D1 wrestlers, so we will wait to see if he is the answer. 

165 Pounds

From 165 pounds through 285 pounds, Nebraska has all familiar names and five NCAA qualifiers coming back. Isaiah White will be back at 165 pounds and will look to finish high on the podium after his 5th place finish this past season. White has proven over the years that he will be in every match. He also beat eventual National Champion Mekhi Lewis at the Cliff Keen Invitational earlier in the season.

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174 Pounds

Mikey Labriola had a fantastic redshirt freshman season placing sixth at NCAAs and collecting 30 wins in the process. There is no reason to think Labriola will not build off this season and be in the mix for the next three years.

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184 Pounds

Coming off a 4th place finish as a redshirt freshman in the 2017-18 season, Taylor Venz fell short of the podium this season, losing to Zach Zavatsky in the bloodround. With six of the eight All-Americans graduating, Nebraska will be counting on Venz to get back on the podium next season.

197 Pounds

In his first two years varsity action, Eric Schultz has qualified for the NCAAs but ended his season in the Round of 16 both times. Like Venz at 184 pounds, Nebraska will be counting on Schultz for the next two seasons to battle to find the podium and score some points for them at the NCAAs.

285 Pounds

David Jensen should be the 285 pound starter again for Nebraska. Jensen has started the past two seasons showing improvement this past season as he qualified for the NCAA tournament. Nebraska will hope for continued improvement and a few more points from him at NCAAs at heavyweight.