Team roster math 2025-26 season

[kadeeu]

As most of you know there are new roster size limits for NCAA sports that will be in place for the 2025-2026 school year. Wrestling was allotted 30 roster spots going forward (down from unlimited?) and will be able to offer 30 full scholarships, up from 9.9 scholarships. All sports now are able to offer partial scholarships so that has not changed for wrestling other than the total amount of scholarships available.

So what does the roster math look like right now and how does Penn State get to only 30 on their roster for the 2025-26 season?

-Right now, Penn State's wrestling roster lists 38 wrestlers at the end of the year.

-At senior day there were 10 wrestlers that walked and apparently will no longer be on the team. Greg Kerkvliet did not walk but he is out of eligibility and walked last year. So, a total of 11 leaving the program.

-In addition, 4 Penn State wrestlers (Facundo, AJF, Evans and Steen) entered the transfer portal. I listed Vespa previously but he is not on the roster.

-So with all that attrition the roster will be down to 23.


Now the additions. Penn State has 6 freshmen arriving this fall in Blaze, Dule, Desmond, Perry, Cunningham, and Henckel. Oh, and don't forget about our foreign exchange student Ono to make a total of 7 additions right now.

By my count that means that the roster will be at 30 with those additions so they are at the limit right now. Obviously if we wanted to bring in a transfer we would need to offset each one with a roster departure.

I am sure Cael likes the additional scholarships so he doesn't have to stretch the 9.9 anymore, but it will certainly impact his ability to add a lot of quality depth.

Hope my math and info are correct but let me know any errors and I'll update the post.

 

[RandyL]

Would they need a scholly for Cunningham, sine his dad is employee ... and same with Perry??

I suppose NIL $ could address unfunded schollys ??

 

[Ian]

As most of you know there are new roster size limits for NCAA sports that will be in place for the 2025-2026 school year. Wrestling was allotted 30 roster spots going forward (down from unlimited?) and will be able to offer 30 full scholarships, up from 9.9 scholarships. All sports now are able to offer partial scholarships so that has not changed for wrestling other than the total amount of scholarships available.

So what does the roster math look like right now and how does Penn State get to only 30 on their roster for the 2025-26 season?

-Right now, Penn State's wrestling roster lists 38 wrestlers at the end of the year.

-At senior day there were 10 wrestlers that walked and apparently will no longer be on the team. Greg Kerkvliet did not walk but he is out of eligibility and walked last year. So, a total of 11 leaving the program.

-In addition, three Penn State wrestlers (Facundo, Vespa and Steen) entered the transfer portal.

-So with all that attrition the roster will be down to 24.


Now the additions. Penn State has 6 freshmen arriving this fall in Blaze, Dule, Desmond, Perry, Cunningham, and Henckel. Oh, and don't forget about our foreign exchange student Ono to make a total of 7 additions right now.

By my count that means that the roster will be at 31 with those additions so there will need to be at least one more leave the program. Obviously if we wanted to bring in a transfer we would need to offset each one with a roster departure.

I am sure Cael likes the additional scholarships so he doesn't have to stretch the 9.9 anymore, but it will certainly impact his ability to add a lot of quality depth.

Hope my math and info are correct but let me know any errors and I'll update the post.

By my count they have studs at #1 and #2 for every weight but HWT right now. That’s 19 guys with top notch resumes. The backups could be top 5. The guys transferring out were here 3 yrs I believe and can’t break in.

 

[Sullivan]

Would they need a scholly for Cunningham, sine his dad is employee ... and same with Perry??

I suppose NIL $ could address unfunded schollys ??

Schools can have a roster up to 30 wrestlers, and up to 30 scholarships. Cunningham and Perry will count.

 

[Kale_yeah]

Less "room guys" so the room guys that are left will get practice on more.

 

[El-Jefe]

Would they need a scholly for Cunningham, sine his dad is employee ... and same with Perry??

I suppose NIL $ could address unfunded schollys ??

Scholarship -- not necessarily. They still count on the roster limit.

I wonder if any incoming recruits grayshirt. That would help solve the issue.

 

[kadeeu]

I saw speculation that teams would use their RTC squad as a way around the limits. You could possibly move wrestlers back and forth somehow between the team roster and the NLWC, if needed.

 

[El-Jefe]

I saw speculation that teams would use their RTC squad as a way around the limits. You could possibly move wrestlers back and forth somehow between the team roster and the NLWC, if needed.

Makes sense. Cornell has done that for years with FLWC, to get around the Ivy 4-year restriction.

If that happens, anybody on the NLWC roster could not compete in any duals or attached at any Opens for the full year.

 

[tullfan68]

many of these kids are so good no need for a shirt!

 

[kadeeu]

Updated the original post to account for two more in the portal in Evans and Fricchionne.

 

[PAgeologist]

many of these kids are so good no need for a shirt!

But they do need a spot in the lineup.

 

[CantThinkOfAGoodUsername]

April 7 is the NCAA hearing to decide the roster limits. So we should know very soon what is going to happen in 25-26.