Who are our top recruiting targets for the next class?
- Thread starter Nitfan
- Start date
There’s pinned thread at the top called “Penn State eligibility/recruiting spreadsheet” that is a fantastic resource for this kind of questions.
Thou shalt press thy courte to the fullest
Just look at the the top 5 then next 5 in the 2022 class and start there. Bet on at least 2 being Nits. Then another 2 from the next 10. That’s usually how it works.
Bouzakis if we’re talking about class of 22.
Would assume Shapiro for top target for class of 23 and Gibson for class of 24.
We're a finalist for Mendez, who's Willie's #1 in 2022.
Doesn't mean Mendez is the top target, only that it's not so clear Bouzakis is.
Cael is just full of surprises. Tbh, does anyone recall Facundo even considering here? I thought he was a Michigan lock early then there was talk ISU led. Then he commits to PSU lol. Similarly, it's pretty established Van Ness wasn't leaning here at first but Cael changed his mind.
Cael even landed Zain and Nolf when it seemed clear they were headed to Iowa
(posted by Hawkeyebot)
Legitimately curious if either were close? I've heard rumblings Nolf was pretty set to go there for a while (you know Jody wanted that)
The entire "Jason to Iowa" rumor was based upon him taking a pic at the Gable statue on the way to or from Des Moines nationals. As if anybody wouldn't have taken that pic.
He canceled a scheduled official to Iowa when he committed to PSU. So he couldn't have been terribly close to going to Iowa.
IIRC the other program he really liked was Stanford.
Zain also canceled an Iowa official when committing to PSU. Word at the time was that the non-PSU coach he liked was Smith.
TnT drove 13+ hrs from Iowa City to Benton for the parade when Zain won Cadet Worlds -- even though they could not talk with him. Just in the hope that Zain might see them in the crowd. Didn't do them much good ...
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They would have had to been in the front row.
Benton safer > Iran > iowa cityIowa even has a much higher carbon footprint than PSU.
But I have to believe since the hawks stopped shooting each other and the campus ducks that maybe, it's possible, that citation may have changed.
Fwiw, Tom Brands said in an interview he thought they had Nolf. They were definitely in the mix.
When Jason was on what I believe was Baschamania he said that he was an Iowa fan growing up but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to NCAA wrestling. He said he just kind of committed to PSU without giving it a whole lot of thought.
Most YG kids will grow up an Iowa fan. Jody definitely talks about them all practice and his club colors are yellow and black for crying out loud. That being said, we've gotten the Young Gun kids we prioritized sans Spencer (and that really wasn't Jody's doing anyways) so I'm not too worried about that influence. Yianni wore an Iowa headgear forever also.
Plus, it seems M2 is becoming more popular in that region as well.
Rhetorical question I know haha.
Cenzo 2, Nolf 3, Nico 1 for Iowa
Spencer 3 for Iowa
Look - I never liked saying "Penn State didn't want those kids anyways" (Kemerer, Murin, Young) because obviously they're all great kids/wrestlers and they'd all be welcomed at Penn State. Also, they obviously all would have spots in our lineup at SOME point. But it's a tough sell when they all would be definitely sitting at some point in their eligibility at PSU. That plus the money tied up on other kids and I wouldn't say we truly lost those guys.
Similarly, Teasdale and Gulibon were both big time YG kids we got as well. Obviously neither panned out but they both were Top 5 PFP recruits.
Honestly, the YG kid I think we made a mistake not prioritizing is Luke Pletcher (cue jokes about his Uncle) I think he had a clear spot in our lineup all 4 of his years here (assuming him or Lee can go 149 in 2020) and rumors are he really wanted to come.
I thought I had dates with Charlize Theron and Naomi Watts. I was in the mix
I like your post, but man, poor Jimmy G. Can't feel good to be a 4-year starter in the B1G, and an AA, and still end up lumped in w/ the kid that never even put a D1 singlet on.
@82bordeaux was definitely in the mix for Paige Spiranac too.
Might explain why he has since delegated “the most important aspect of the job” (per Rob Koll) to an assistant.
You're 100% right. It's insane for me to consider a career with 4 trips to NCAAs and one time podium finish is considered underwhelming and it absolutely shouldn't be compared to Teasdale (though I hope he's turning his life around and it sounds like he's on the right track)
Speaking of Jason, was in Yatesboro last week and noticed the town finally put up the 3 time NCAA championship sign next to the one they already had up for his High school a accomplishments. Long shot but would love to see them hang an Olympic Champion sign next...
Leaving this for @82bordeaux to add to his repertoire:
I've always wanted to use a Sardo Numspa JIF!
For awhile there, Hawkeye fans were becoming increasingly upset with the Hawk coaching staff and the job they were doing recruiting wise next to what Cael was doing here. Signing the Pa contingent especially Spencer led them to back off a bit but I loved watching them fight amongst themselves. Morning star was a big big target for many of them. And of course I was a prick and would instigate things. I actually think I was banned there once when I kept prodding them about the Brands brothers for not even knowing who Aaron Brooks was. You could imagine my delight when John Brooks prosted (and I think it was before Aaron's PSU commit) that Iowa never contacted Aaron. I really pounced on that when two fans would be bitching about Iowa getting out recruited by PSU. Lol. It killed them when I'd tell them maybe it would help if the coaching staff would at the very least contact pfp #1s. LolMight explain why he has since delegated “the most important aspect of the job” (per Rob Koll) to an assistant.
Oh and another one I'd troll them with was THE BINDER. I know if they could theyd punch me right in the face when I'd tell them it's pretty sad when a recruits dad has to teach their coaching staff how to recruit kids. Lol
Oh..the good ol days. I sure do miss that place...😑
Charlize gets around as I have seen others on this board mention her in their mix.
I dont judge
The fans have let up a bit. I hear the bitching now is done by the top notch recruits TnT get who keep sucking PSU's individual championship dust.
Dude, I never took any of your HR posts as trolling. I always thought it was mighty nice of you to put forth such an effort to help the collective see the light.
Good God. Teaching Jason Nolf to wrestle for the stall call would have been a sin.
Zain's other final school was Lehigh (w/ Hughes connection).
Lehigh was also devastated when Kemerer committed to Iowa. it was all but a done deal.
Lehigh was also devastated when Kemerer committed to Iowa. it was all but a done deal.
And, JG beat at least 2 national champs (Clark and I'm counting his pin over Heil!). Jimmy was a very good wrestler that hasn't gotten enough credit for his record.
