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2025-26 PSU Roster/Lineup thread

It's accurate that I have been a bit down on the M brothers which is totally unfair in the sense that both are definitely AA level 'stud' guys, but when wearing my blue and white "Goggles" I set unrealistically high expectations like many of the rest of us, yet I am not convinced either is 'Elite' in the arm chair QB rudest sense of the word.

10 Years ago, we were all quite satisfied with any lineup slot getting 'only' an AA guy. Heck it seemed like we always had 2, 3, maybe even 4 holes in our lineups, but the multiple 'elite' national champions carried us to team titles. Seeing all time scoring records has brainwashed us all. We truly want and now somewhat expect top 4 guys in all ten spots, which is just plain insane, and a bit stupid. Cael has turned is into a cult, and has mastered mind control of both the team and the fans.

That said there are some real studs whom I see as vulnerable, not only to being a top 4 talent, but also a path to being multiyear starters. Both Marisolas are in that category for me. It seems short a big transfer, Heavyweight is there for either/or Cole/Conner for several years to come, I still don't believe either can carry 235 lbs. My distaste for AJ is big, but I doubt either can have success against his style and strength. Conner is the better brother, but sucked down to 184 against a full feed very strong Welch? Let's just say for 9 out of 10 guys going down a weight finishes more like Alex Facundo than Levi Haines.

I really loved watching Joe Sealy in highschool, and was super happy when we got him, but I am grasping at straws to see a clear path for him as well.

Shifting gears a bit.

Pre-Season how about these lofty (but I think very realistic) expectations - without simply calling out a bunch of national champions?

125 - Lilledahl - Finalist
133 - Ono - Finalist
141 - Blaze - Finalist
149 - SVN - Top 3 amended
157 - Kasak - Finalist
165 - Mesenbrink - Finalist
174 - Haines - Finalist
184 - Welch - Top 4 in a very top heavy talented class
197 - Barr - Finalist
Hwt - Cole Marrisola - 6-8th

Am I wrong? I really don't think so!

I would like to see Nagao at 141 while both Davis and Blaze shirt, but it's going to be really, really hard to keep that shirt on Blaze come January.

PS - I think Duke is an instant Finalist talent as well, but they are going to sew that shirt on with barbed wire next year.
Do you realize how closely Conner and Josh Barr match up? Conner is an elite talent too.
How many guys took down Aaron Brooks last year? You don't need an abacus.
 
It's accurate that I have been a bit down on the M brothers which is totally unfair in the sense that both are definitely AA level 'stud' guys, but when wearing my blue and white "Goggles" I set unrealistically high expectations like many of the rest of us, yet I am not convinced either is 'Elite' in the arm chair QB rudest sense of the word.

10 Years ago, we were all quite satisfied with any lineup slot getting 'only' an AA guy. Heck it seemed like we always had 2, 3, maybe even 4 holes in our lineups, but the multiple 'elite' national champions carried us to team titles. Seeing all time scoring records has brainwashed us all. We truly want and now somewhat expect top 4 guys in all ten spots, which is just plain insane, and a bit stupid. Cael has turned is into a cult, and has mastered mind control of both the team and the fans.

That said there are some real studs whom I see as vulnerable, not only to being a top 4 talent, but also a path to being multiyear starters. Both Marisolas are in that category for me. It seems short a big transfer, Heavyweight is there for either/or Cole/Conner for several years to come, I still don't believe either can carry 235 lbs. My distaste for AJ is big, but I doubt either can have success against his style and strength. Conner is the better brother, but sucked down to 184 against a full feed very strong Welch? Let's just say for 9 out of 10 guys going down a weight finishes more like Alex Facundo than Levi Haines.

I really loved watching Joe Sealy in highschool, and was super happy when we got him, but I am grasping at straws to see a clear path for him as well.

Shifting gears a bit.

Pre-Season how about these lofty (but I think very realistic) expectations - without simply calling out a bunch of national champions?

125 - Lilledahl - Finalist
133 - Ono - Finalist
141 - Blaze - Finalist
149 - SVN - Top 3 amended
157 - Kasak - Finalist
165 - Mesenbrink - Finalist
174 - Haines - Finalist
184 - Welch - Top 4 in a very top heavy talented class
197 - Barr - Finalist
Hwt - Cole Marrisola - 6-8th

Am I wrong? I really don't think so!

I would like to see Nagao at 141 while both Davis and Blaze shirt, but it's going to be really, really hard to keep that shirt on Blaze come January.

PS - I think Duke is an instant Finalist talent as well, but they are going to sew that shirt on with barbed wire next year.
I agree with you actually. I have a hard time wanting a heavy to com in over the Marrasola's. I am 100% ok with a solid AA/could potentially be a finalist. Let's see that magic of progression.

I am excited to see these two grow and compete for the blue and white NC or NQ they will improve and I want to see how much.
 
Do you realize how closely Conner and Josh Barr match up? Conner is an elite talent too.
How many guys took down Aaron Brooks last year? You don't need an abacus.
1)If they are so close, when will they decide which one has to drop to 184?🤨
2) Whats an abacus, isnt that a Genesis song?
 
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1)If they are so close, when will they decide which one has to drop to 184?🤨
2) Whats an abacus, isnt that a Genesis song?
I would think this has been discussed and everybody probably already has a pretty solid idea where ther are going to try and fit in next year.
 
i can't see sitting blaze, but maybe to get nagao in this year then blaze has his big 4 yr run after with Duke.
but the talent, not sure you can sit it
 
i can't see sitting blaze, but maybe to get nagao in this year then blaze has his big 4 yr run after with Duke.
but the talent, not sure you can sit it
I think if Blaze sits it is because his best weight is 133 and that is where Ono wants to go. I could see that happening and Blaze take a RS to bulk up to 141/65kg. Will really depend on what weight Ono decides, everything will depend on him
 
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I think if Blaze sits it is because his best weight is 133 and that is where Ono wants to go. I could see that happening and Blaze take a RS to bulk up to 141/65kg. Will really depend on what weight Ono decides, everything will depend on him
Thats not how I interpreted Ono himself saying, in the Flo interview, he would go anywhere from 33-57.
 
Do you realize how closely Conner and Josh Barr match up? Conner is an elite talent too.
How many guys took down Aaron Brooks last year? You don't need an abacus.
Yeah, I don't need an Abacus, when my eyes saw that exact matchup with JB and it was not close. At all! An 11-0 beat down I believe. I will admit it shocked me, I expected a very close match with Connor likely having the edge. The tourney was a Josh Barr coming out party.

That said Conner had not had the advantage of hardly any trading in our room yet, certainly not the full year + Josh had had at the time, so I am totally open to a significant closing of the gap. Granted the awesome Nov 2024 Josh Barr was a much lesser version of the March 2025 version that continues to get better as we speak.

If Conner takes out Josh next fall, I will be the first to raise my hand and boast both admiration for Conner and admit I was wrong, but I do not today see Connor challenging Barr for the 197 slot, and unfortunately am not a big believer in projecting him 13 lbs lighter and effective enough to take out Rocco at 184 either

I don't see it happening, but I do believe he is definitely a tier better than his brother and despite being a year behind in a good weight gain program, his best path to starting is most likely at heavyweight.

As for Max Dean vs Conner, Max peaked mentally IMO when he achieved his goal becoming a national champion. Not to mention a major mental lapse in the last 20 seconds that cost him the Marisola freestyle match. Check out Conner vs Sinclair.

Connor is a huge stud don't get me wrong, but his path to top 4 eliteness is still a definite work in progress.
 
Yeah, I don't need an Abacus, when my eyes saw that exact matchup with JB and it was not close. At all! An 11-0 beat down I believe. I will admit it shocked me, I expected a very close match with Connor likely having the edge. The tourney was a Josh Barr coming out party.

That said Conner had not had the advantage of hardly any trading in our room yet, certainly not the full year + Josh had had at the time, so I am totally open to a significant closing of the gap. Granted the awesome Nov 2024 Josh Barr was a much lesser version of the March 2025 version that continues to get better as we speak.

If Conner takes out Josh next fall, I will be the first to raise my hand and boast both admiration for Conner and admit I was wrong, but I do not today see Connor challenging Barr for the 197 slot, and unfortunately am not a big believer in projecting him 13 lbs lighter and effective enough to take out Rocco at 184 either

I don't see it happening, but I do believe he is definitely a tier better than his brother and despite being a year behind in a good weight gain program, his best path to starting is most likely at heavyweight.

As for Max Dean vs Conner, Max peaked mentally IMO when he achieved his goal becoming a national champion. Not to mention a major mental lapse in the last 20 seconds that cost him the Marisola freestyle match. Check out Conner vs Sinclair.

Connor is a huge stud don't get me wrong, but his path to top 4 eliteness is still a definite work in progress.
I expect the gap to be closed. Do I expect Conner to actually beat Barr and take the spot? No, I definitely do not expect that after watching Barr last year, but it's not impossible, I guess, and their position battle will be one of the more interesting ones to follow because I don't think we saw the best of Conner in that matchup last year.
 
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I expect the gap to be closed. Do I expect Conner to actually beat Barr and take the spot? No, I definitely do not expect that after watching Barr last year, but it's not impossible, I guess, and their position battle will be one of the more interesting ones to follow because I don't think we saw the best of Conner in that matchup last year.
well they both will be getting better not just one!
 
Crazy to think that 133/141 there are 2 all Americans, a world champion and Blaze whose accomplishments are too many to list. Talk about iron shapes iron. Crazy. That's one helluva two deep at both weights.
 
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They are both one injury away. Why doesn't anyone seem to understand this?
Because it’s easier for you to digest it with literally zero invested into any of it besides being a fan compared to these kids who don’t want to waste a single second of eligibility considering they are AA type talents.

Not sure how you don’t understand this.
 
Because it’s easier for you to digest it with literally zero invested into any of it besides being a fan compared to these kids who don’t want to waste a single second of eligibility considering they are AA type talents.

Not sure how you don’t understand this.
Thank you Mrs. Ryder. Best of luck to your son this season.
 
Thank you Mrs. Ryder. Best of luck to your son this season.
The fact you had no idea I was referring to Nagao and Davis tells me all I need to know about your comprehension level. Go back to playing with your crayons and let the adults discuss adult things.
 
Crazy to think that 133/141 there are 2 all Americans, a world champion and Blaze whose accomplishments are too many to list. Talk about iron shapes iron. Crazy. That's one helluva two deep at both weights.
"Second best light weight room in the country"...
 
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