Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 285lbs
Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 285lbs
There are as many as five All-Americans returning at 285 pounds for the upcoming Division 1 wrestling season.
We've finally gotten to the big boys, the heavyweights, the 285lb behemoths at the end of the lineup. Our series on returning All-Americans concludes with the largest guys on the team.
There's a small group coming back, but that is to be expected at a weight that is traditionally dominated by juniors and seniors. This year also is pretty much the demarcation point to a new era of excellent heavyweights about to join the college ranks.
Returning AAs By Weight
125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197
The one big question mark is Nick Nevills. A two-time All-American for Penn State, he might end up on the shelf this year and apply for a medical redshirt, which was part of why Anthony Cassar is bumping up to wrestle heavyweight.
Aside from Nevills, the Big Ten returns two big guns in Sam Stoll and Youssif Hemida, the latter of which will be representing Team USA at the U23 world championships. If Amar Dhesi still has a year of eligibility left as we expect, then he is your highest returning placer, along with fellow Pac-12 star Tanner Hall, who was third in 2017 but did not place this past March.
The rankings for 285 are set to be released this Friday, September 28th. So for now, enjoy this article as well as our discussion of the heavyweight tiers from FRL 316.
Amar Dhesi, Oregon State: DNP, 5th, 3rd, ?
As mentioned above, we're still unsure if Dhesi has one final season of eligibility available to him. He alternated NCAA appearances in even years (2014, 2016, 2018) with "redshirt" seasons in 2015 and 2017. Along with Ronnie Bresser, the Beavers have excellent bookends to their lineup.
Nick Nevills, Penn State: DNW, 5, 7, ?
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but the tea leaves seem to be pointing to Nevills missing this year. With Cassar bumping up and Nick's younger brother Seth greyshirting, it just makes sense if Nick foregoes this year and gets a sixth year of eligibility. However, he has been a crucial piece in the Nittany Lion's past two titles, placing both years and scoring 18.5 total team points.
Sam Stoll, Iowa: DNW, DNW, 5, ?
There's a possibility Stoll becomes the de facto #1 if Dhesi is out of eligibility and Nevills doesn't wrestle. The Midlands champ was 1-2 vs Nevills, beating him at NCAAs and also placing behind Dhesi. We also must of course mention his issue with being shot in the knee this summer, but that may not end up affecting his season much if at all.
Tanner Hall, Arizona State: DNP, 3, DNP, ?
Talk about a tough season for Hall. He was very highly ranked to start the year, and nearly beat Adam Coon at the CKLV. Then he took a controversial loss to Sam Stoll in the Midlands finals. And he was in the best weight in the Pac-12 with Dhesi and Nathan Butler in his way. He went from third in 2017 to not placing after losing to Derek White and Jere Heino at NCAAs, so Hall might have a bit of a chip on his shoulder this season.
Youssif Hemida, Maryland: DNQ, DNP, 8, ?
Hemida was the premier recruit of the past several years, and wrestles for one of the best heavyweights of the past two or three decades. So we probably should've seen this one coming, especially competing in the nation's toughest conference. It will be interesting to see how Hemida follows up his AA performance when he'll be coming off U23 worlds.