2024 Lineup and Expectation

[Bosox2004]

Question for the masses.

What is Ben’s ceiling this year assuming he goes ? Clearly this board must have a wide range of opinions .

Any idea on what he weighs , did he bulk up at all for football before the season started . I assume the coaches told him long ago they wanted to see him at 240 .

I also assume he has been in the room as much as he can since he stated he can’t stay away as brands alluded to. He must have rolled with AJ and Cass giving “some” a better understanding of where he is at.

 

[eobhawk]

Question for the masses.

What is Ben’s ceiling this year assuming he goes ? Clearly this board must have a wide range of opinions .

Any idea on what he weighs , did he bulk up at all for football before the season started . I assume the coaches told him long ago they wanted to see him at 240 .

I also assume he has been in the room as much as he can since he stated he can’t stay away as brands alluded to. He must have rolled with AJ and Cass giving “some” a better understanding of where he is at.

At this point, I would think battling Davison/Hendrickson/Schultz/Elam in the a 3rd or 5th place match might be the VERY optimistic end, with a floor of R12-16 with a poor draw. A poor draw may definitely be in the cards if he won't have enough matches for seeding because of football. Would love to see him on the mat against good competition as soon as he gets away from the football team to see how he looks bulked up.

BK seems to be wired different, so I'd love to see what he can do. His athleticism is going to be superior to most opponents, which hasn't always been the case for us.

Cass has good scrambling ability for a big guy, but without the weight advantage he had earlier in his career, he ran into problems with the top heavies that were more athletic (GS, Parris, Kerk primarily). Note, I love Cass and this isn't a dig at him. I just think the Hwt class is going a different direction. He made massive changes to his body to try to compensate, but nothing he was going to do would make him the athletic freak that we are seeing in some of today's heavies.

 

[js8793]

At this point, I would think battling Davison/Hendrickson/Schultz/Elam in the a 3rd or 5th place match might be the optimistic end, with a floor of R12-16 with a poor draw. A poor draw may definitely be in the cards if he won't have enough matches for seeding because of football. Would love to see him on the mat against good competition as soon as he gets away from the football team to see how he looks bulked up.

BK seems to be wired different, so I'd love to see what he can do. His athleticism is going to be superior to most opponents, which hasn't always been the case for us.

Cass has good scrambling ability for a big guy, but without the weight advantage he had earlier in his career, he ran into problems with the top heavies that were more athletic (GS, Parris, Kerk primarily). Note, I love Cass and this isn't a dig at him. I just think the Hwt class is going a different direction. He made massive changes to his body to try to compensate, but nothing he was going to do would make him the athletic freak that we are seeing in some of today's heavies.

In regards to Cass, I think we're in the final year of a generational heavyweight era. The next crop of guys is not as talented as the group that's finishing up. Like 5-6 age level world champs. I don't think Kueter will have the same level of competition to deal with.

 

[eobhawk]

In regards to Cass, I think we're in the final year of a generational heavyweight era. The next crop of guys is not as talented as the group that's finishing up. Like 5-6 age level world champs. I don't think Kueter will have the same level of competition to deal with.

Totally agree. I think there have been times within the last 20 years, where Cass would have had a chance at being a multi-time champ. Embarrassment of riches at HWT right now. Also agree that this group will be clearing out shortly through graduation.

That said, I still would love to see how BK stacks up. I don't get the impression that he is someone that would get rattled over taking some lumps. Maybe I'm wrong though. He hasn't really lost in the past.

 

[Redm18]

Question for the masses.

What is Ben’s ceiling this year assuming he goes ? Clearly this board must have a wide range of opinions .

Any idea on what he weighs , did he bulk up at all for football before the season started . I assume the coaches told him long ago they wanted to see him at 240 .

I also assume he has been in the room as much as he can since he stated he can’t stay away as brands alluded to. He must have rolled with AJ and Cass giving “some” a better understanding of where he is at.

I have such a hard time putting any sort of a ceiling on him because is such an athletic specimen. In some respects it might make sense for him to wrestle as little as possible this year before the post season so that if he does wrestle in the post season he is somewhat of a surprise to people.

 

[eobhawk]

I have such a hard time putting any sort of a ceiling on him because is such an athletic specimen. In some respects it might make sense for him to wrestle as little as possible this year before the post season so that if he does wrestle in the post season he is somewhat of a surprise to people.

At the same time, I feel like you have to let him compete against a few of the top guys with his five freebie dates to see where he stacks up. If he is not noticeably outclassed, you know he can close the gap a lot. If he looks like a freshman then it is a tougher decision. Hate to burn the shirt, but will he still be wrestling in 3-4 years with his football background?.

 

[Redm18]

At the same time, I feel like you have to let him compete against a few of the top guys with his five freebie dates to see where he stacks up. If he is not noticeably outclassed, you know he can close the gap a lot. If he looks like a freshman then it is a tougher decision. Hate to burn the shirt, but will he still be wrestling in 3-4 years with his football background?.

I honestly don't think you worry about his shirt no matter what because like you said I think he probably will not be in the Iowa Wrestling room unless he decides to only focus on wrestling. If that's the case I think you have a world class wrestler coming from your room and your worried about the 2028 Olympic cycle.

 

[Grip220]

He wants to wrestle and the coaches are good with it then let him jump in as soon as possible. Im fairly certain the first week after the bowl game he will be full go in the wrestling room, I know I would be!

 

[Gobblin]

I honestly don't think you worry about his shirt no matter what because like you said I think he probably will not be in the Iowa Wrestling room unless he decides to only focus on wrestling. If that's the case I think you have a world class wrestler coming from your room and your worried about the 2028 Olympic cycle.

He will absolutely be in the wrestling room training to win an NCAA title in the very near future.

 

[johnyt9]

He will absolutely be in the wrestling room training to win an NCAA title in the very near future.

He'd better, despite What Ferentz says publicly, there is no guarantee he is the HC of Iowa football for the next few seasons and the next HC may not want BK to wrestle

 

[Libertylover]

At the same time, I feel like you have to let him compete against a few of the top guys with his five freebie dates to see where he stacks up. If he is not noticeably outclassed, you know he can close the gap a lot. If he looks like a freshman then it is a tougher decision. Hate to burn the shirt, but will he still be wrestling in 3-4 years with his football background?.

With their track record of developing linebackers, we may be lucky to get two seasons out of him. With him still a possibility on the wrestling team , it kills our chances of recruiting any high end heavyweight. I guess that’s the chance we took, recruiting a D1 football player.

 

[blcoach80]

I honestly don't think you worry about his shirt no matter what because like you said I think he probably will not be in the Iowa Wrestling room unless he decides to only focus on wrestling. If that's the case I think you have a world class wrestler coming from your room and your worried about the 2028 Olympic cycle.

No way you worry about saving BK's shirt. He is not wrestling for 5 years. I would be ecstatic if we got 4 years out of him.

 

[moosemonster]

He'd better, despite What Ferentz says publicly, there is no guarantee he is the HC of Iowa football for the next few seasons and the next HC may not want BK to wrestle

Kirk is under contract through 2029 with a buyout of roughly $40 million. He is going nowhere.

 

[el dub]

Is it worth burning his redshirt to be an undersized true freshman on a team that is not winning a national championship?

Exactly. Nope.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

Wut?
Like what you want about attitude and personality, but we need champs! Only 2 championships in 12 attempts from the guys you listed. So yeah, Ramos fits the bill and did it on guts, but he’s the outlier in a case for needing villains to get back on top.

We need athletic, 3-dimensional wrestlers and a healthy training routine.

I’ll take 10 Gilman/ DeSanto type kids. If you get 10 kids placing 3rd-5th with some bonus thrown in, you’re winning the national tournament.

 

[Sett1997]

At final X, Brooks lost to Taylor 5-4, taking Taylor down twice. There is an argument Brooks is #2 in the world at 86kg. A lot would have to happen for AJ to win, but I would love to see the matchup.

Mehh, I don't think Taylor wrestles his buddies the same as the world stage. He's like 50% as aggressive. Another match to look at was Burroughs V Taylor in the exhibition.
He backs off imo.
You think Brooks could beat Yaz? I think Yaz beats Brooks 7-1, 8-2 type score.
Just doesn't seem plausible to me.
But, I've been wrong many times in my life. Lol
I'm with you on the AJ vs Brooks match. Would be epic. Agree with you on Brooks having the advantage.

 

[SPOONER]

Kirk is under contract through 2029 with a buyout of roughly $40 million. He is going nowhere.

Kirk is not going to be the coach in 2029.

 

[johnyt9]

Kirk is not going to be the coach in 2029.

He is 68 years old and His son was just fired out from under him. I wouldn't bet on that either

 

[Rotisserie Scrotz]

I’ll take 10 Gilman/ DeSanto type kids. If you get 10 kids placing 3rd-5th with some bonus thrown in, you’re winning the national tournament.

Well, yeah, I’d take 10 Gilman/DeSanto types too. Only problem is, that is not a realistic scenario for any team in the NCAA. If you’re being real, the question is more like “Do I want a few Gilman/DeSanto type kids, or do I want a few KOT/Nickal type kids?”