Tracking whether or not true freshmen are still in redshirt got marginally more complicated a couple of years ago with the introduction of a new NCAA bylaw. 

In the past it was simple. If a true freshman wrestled a varsity match, they were no longer redshirting. Nowadays, true frosh can compete in up tp five varsity events and still keep their redshirt (note: a two-day tournament is one event, and multiple duals in one day also counts as one event). 

One important wrinkle in that new rule is that true freshmen cannot compete unattached in the first semester. Therefore, freshmen can't wrestle unattached at pre-Christmas tournaments. If they do, it'll count as a varsity competition. 

It's a little confusing, but we're here to help! We went through a lot of results and opened scores of tabs on our web browsers to try and figure out where every potential true freshman D1 postseason starter stood with regards to their redshirt status. The results are below. We're not infallible though, so if you suspect something is amiss, please let us know!

Potential Starts Who Cannot Use A Redshirt

Everyone in this list is a true freshman who has already competed in six or more varsity competitions. They may still be in a roster battle and there's no guarantee they'll start in the postseason, but this year will count as one of their four years of NCAA eligibility. They will be able to take a redshirt season in the future, just not for the 2023-24 season. 

The list below includes weight, rank (if applicable), name, school, and season record against D1 opponents.

125: #3 Braeden Davis, Penn State (12-0)

PSU hasn't had an All-American at 125 since Nico Megaludis won a title in 2016. Davis will likely get the opportunity to end that streak in March. 

125: Conad Hendriksen, Oklahoma (11-7)

133: #7 Nasir Bailey, Little Rock (17-2)

Little Rock has only had one national qualifier in program history, albeit a history that began a mere five years ago. 

133: #23 Tyler Well, Minnesota (9-2)

Wells has wrestled his way onto the lineup and into the rankings, earning the starting spot over teammates Jake Gliva and Jager Eisch. 

141: #19 Sergio Lemley, Michigan (11-4)

Lemley will likely be the only underclassman starter in a Wolverine lineup loaded with experience. 

141: #32 Greyson Clark, Purdue (12-5)

141: Isaiah Powe, Chattanooga (13-2)

149: #9 Ty Watters, West Virginia (14-2)

Watters established himself as the Mountaineer starter early in the season and never looked back. 

149: Noah Tapia, Hofstra (14-9)

157: #9 Cody Chittum, Iowa State (10-3)

Chittum stepped up when Panrio Johnson was ruled ineligible (for now?) due to the ongoing student gambling investigation. Chittum solidified his starting spot and earned his top 10 ranking when he defeated #4 Jacori Teemer in a January dual. 

157: #18 Joey Blaze, Purdue (14-5)

Blaze is part of a reloaded Purdue lineup that has zero seniors and eight underclassmen starting.

165: #15 Noah Mulvaney, Bucknell (20-3)

Mulaney has wrestled in all but one of Bucknell's scheduled varsity competitions this season. 

174: #14 Rocco Welsh, Ohio State (12-1)

The incredible depth in the Buckeye wrestling room is on display as Welsh steps up for erstwhile top 10 starter Carson Kharcla who suffered a season-ending injury. 

174: #30 Brayden Thompson, Oklahoma State (6-4)

Just over half of the new-look Cowboys' lineup will likely be freshmen or transfers this season, including Thompson.

174: Myles Takats, Bucknell (17-8)

174: Jasaiah Queen, Drexel (6-6)

Queen is stepping in for three-time national qualifier Mickey O'Malley, who is taking an Olympic redshirt. 

184: Adam Cherne, North Dakota State (5-3)

184: Kingsly Menifee, Morgan State (7-9)

197: #22 Joey Novak, Wyoming (14-9)

Novak is part of a new generation of Cowboys that have nine underclassmen and one junior in their projected postseason lineup. 

197: #28 Justin Rademacher, Oregon State (9-7)

Rademacher has helped the Beavers climb into the top 20 by being one of eight Oregon State starters in the national individual rankings.

Potential Starters That Could Stay On Redshirt

All of these wrestlers could still defer eligibility this season, though it's likely at least a few of them wrestle in the postseason. But in the event that none of them do, expect to see all these names in the redshirt report in the next preseason. 

125: #1 Luke Stanich, Lehigh (10-1)

Despite being ranked number one and being included in the first edition of the Coaches' Poll, Stanich can technically still wrestle in one more varsity dual and maintain his redshirt. Lehigh also has Sheldon Seymour at 125 as a potential starter. 

125: Vincent Kilkeary, Ohio State (16-7)

Ohio State will likely go with Brendan McCrone this season. Kilkeary was #34 on the high school Class of 2023 Big Board.

125: Vincent Robinson, NC State (4-1)

The expectation is that Jakob Camacho will be the Wolfpack 125-pounder in March but, if healthy, Robinson could be an option. Robinson was #46 on the Big Board. 

133: #20 Tyler Knox, Stanford (9-5) 

Knox has used up his five varsity starts so the next time he takes the mat in a Cardinal singlet will be when his redshirt is officially torn off. Stanford also has Dom LaJoie at 133. 

133: Zan Fugitt, Wisconsin (5-3)

Fellow freshman, Nicolar Rivera, who has already redshirted, will likely start for the Badgers. Fugitt was #38 on the BigBoard.

133: Kale Petersen, Iowa (4-3)

Iowa has several options, notably #18 Brody Teska and Cullan Schriever, also at 133. Petersen was #52 on the Big Board.

141: Koy Buesgens, NC State (5-1) 

Presumed starter: #4 Ryan Jack. Buesgens was #20 on the Big Board. 

141: Cael Hughes, Oklahoma State (4-0)

Redshirt freshman #9 Tagen Jamison will likely get the postseason nod for the Cowboys. Blue chipper Hughes was also #9 on the 2023 Big Board. 

141: Mac Church, Virginia Tech (5-6) 

141: Hunter Mason, Virginia Tech (9-3) 

Presumed starter for VT: #14 Tom Crook. Mason was #85 and Church was #29 on the Big Board. 

141: Dario Lemus, Maryland (10-5)

Presumed starter: #17 Kal Miller. Lemus was #50 on the high school Class of 2023 Big Board. 

141: Carter Schmidt, Oklahoma (8-4)

Presumed starter: #20 Mosha Schwartz

141: Kaden Jett, Ohio (9-3) 

It looks like the Bobcats are leaning towards having Logan Cravatas start in the postseason but Jett has time left to earn the spot. 

149: #10 Kannon Webster, Illinois (10-1)

While Webster still has the option of redshirting, he is the presumed starter for the Illini. A top 10 national ranking has a strong correlation with being a team's postseason starter.

149: #17 Tyler Kasak, Penn State (6-1)

Kasak is stepping up to fill in for injured All-American Shayne Van Ness, showing off the Nittany Lions' insane roster depth. 

149: Kaleb Larkin, Arizona State (2-0)

Multiple-time All-American #3 Kyle Parco will start this season and has one more season of eligibility after then. Next year, however, he will have to content with teammate and 2023 Bill Farrell champion Kaleb Larkin.

149: Dylan Gilcher, Michigan (7-7)

#4 Austin Gomez will likely strap up for the Maize and Blue in March but Gilcher, #23 on the 2023 Big Board, will be ready to step up if necessary. 

149: Brock Herman, Ohio State (8-3) 

Presumed starter: #7 Dylan D'Emilio. Herman was #58 on the Big Board.

149: Jeremiah Price, App State (10-5)

Presumed starter: #21 Cody Bond.

149: Sam Cartella, Northwestern (13-7)

Cartella was #75 on the Big Board and may yet wrestle his way into the Wildcat lineup.

157: JT Chance, George Mason (8-8)

Presumed starter: #20 DJ McGee.

157: Dylan Evans, Pittsburgh (10-8)

157: Zach Hanson, Stanford (6-2) 

Presumed starter: #7 Daniel Cardenas. Hanson was #49 on the Big Board. 

157: Sloan Swan, Wyoming (6-4)

165: Beau Mantanona, Michigan (14-4)

Presumed starter: #8 Cam Amine. Mantanona was #14 on the Big Board. 

165: Nico Ruiz, Arizona State (6-2)

#33 Chance McLane is currently holding down 165 for the Sun Devils. Ruiz, #15 on the Big Board, will likely battle it out next season with McLane, who has one more year of eligibility.

165: Rafael Hipolito, Virginia Tech (10-3)

Hipolito has a strong jiu-jitsu background and was #57 on the Big Board, however, #24 Connor Brady, who has one more year of eligibility after this season, will most likely start in March for the Hokies. 

165: Chris Moore, Illinois (7-5)

165: Liam Scrivanich, Rider (9-5) 

165: Izzy Moreno, Northern Iowa (7-4)

174: Gabe Arnold, Iowa (7-0)

The Hawkeyes can use Arnold in two more duals before they'll be forced to tear off his redshirt. Arnold, a blue chip recruit and #5 on the Big Board, may still get the postseason nod, but until then Iowa has #13 Patrick Kennedy to man the spot.

174: #27 Lorenzo Norman, Stanford (9-7) 

It's almost a certainty that Norman will start in the postseason for Stanford, and to be honest we're not 100% sure we counted his varsity start precisely right but we're erring on the side of caution and saying it may be possible for him to retain his redshirt, just don't bet on it staying that way for very long. Norman was the #28 recruit last year from powerhouse prep program Blair Academy. 

174: Daschle Lamer, Cal Poly (8-4)

If healthy, expect #9 Adam Kemp to get the start for the Mustangs. If not, the #41 prospect Daschle Lamer has already shown that he is ready to compete at the D1 level.

174: AJ Heeg, Oklahoma State (4-0)

The Cowboys have fellow true frosh Thompson at the helm of 174, though AJ Heeg was also on the 2023 Big Board, checking in at #53.

184: Max McEnelly, Minnesota (11-0) 

The Gophers will have a 'good' problem on their hands next year as #6 Isaiah Salazar has one more year of eligibility and #3 Big Boarder McEnelly will be in fierce competition for the starting job. 

184: Josh Barr, Penn State (8-0)

Expect Barr, #7 on the Big Board,  to take over for Cal Poly transfer #5 Bernie Truax next season.

184: CJ Walrath, Northern Iowa (3-1)

Walrath, #94 on the Big Board, will get at least one year of seasoning before taking over 184, as #1 ranked Parker Keckeisen has two years of eligibility remaining.  

184: Ryder Rogotzke, Ohio State (10-5)

It's crowded at 184 in Columbus right now, as the Buckeyes have Gavin Hoffman and Seth Shumate contending for the starting gig. Rogotzke, #19 on the Big Board, also has the potential to earn a spot in the lineup this year. 

184: Luke Vanadia, Michigan State (6-4)

The Spartan's veteran leader Layne Malczewski graduates next year, clearing a potential path for Vanadia. 

184: Tate Naaktgeboren, Iowa State (0-1)

#9 Will Feldkamp transferred from Clarion to use his final year of eligibility in Ames, but next year Naakgeboren, #33 on the Big Board, figures to be the starter. 

184: Jersey Robb, Oklahoma State (0-2)

Presumed starter: #2 Dustin Plott. Robb was #84 on the Big Board. 

197: Sonny Sasso, Virginia Tech (10-7) 

Presumed starter: #25 Andy Smith. Sasso was #26 on the Big Board.

197: Gavin Nelson, Minnesota (10-7)

Presumed starter: #26 Garrett Joles. Nelson was #12 on the Big Board.

285: Jim Mullen, Virginia Tech (8-3)

Presumed starter: #21 Hunter Catka. Mullen was #11 on the Big Board. 

285: Ben Kueter, Iowa (1-0)

Kueter was a Linebacker on the Hawkeye football team in the fall and the #2 wrestling recruit in the nation before that. However, Kueter will likely redshirt this season behind Bradley Hill. 

285: Christian Carroll, Oklahoma State (0-1)

Fellow heavyweight blue chipper and #8 on the Big Board Christian Carroll will likely get another year of seasoning while #9 Konner Doucet wrestles in the Big 12 conference championship in March. 

Potential Starters Who Can't Redshirt Because Their Schools Do Not Allow It

The Ivy League schools and the service academies do not allow for redshirts, thus the NCAA bylaws do not apply. Some schools sometimes allow for students to defer enrollment for a year which will also allow them to take an NCAA redshirt but that's all to each school, the NCAA is not involved and we're not going to get into it any further than that.

Really what happened is I already looked up all the potential starting true freshmen and didn't want to let good content go to waste. 

125: #29 Max Gallagher, Penn (9-4)

125: Drew Heethuis, Princeton (10-7)

133: Alex Almeyda, Penn (9-2)

Though he won't be able to take a redshirt, Almeyda will likely sit this year behind #13 Michael Colaiocco. starting

133: #32 Braden Basile, Army (15-9)

141: Tyler Vasquez, Princeton (9-8) 

149: #29 Eligh Rivera, Princeton (10-4)

149: Nick Vafiadis, Navy (12-10)

157: #14 Meyer Shapiro, Cornell (11-2)

157: Jude Swisher, Penn (12-5) 

Swisher will likely sit behind presumed starter #25 Lucas Revano.

157: Jonathan Ley, Navy (8-7)

165: Gunner Filipowicz, Army (14-7)

Filipowicz still has to fend off the likes of #29 Dalton Harkins and others to secure the postseason start. 

174: #26 Danny Wask, Navy (18-7) 

197: Martin Cosgrove, Penn (12-9)

285: #26 Lucas Stoddard, Army (19-9)

Did we make any mistakes, omissions, typos? Let us know!