Today · 12:00 AM UTC
Indee/Decorah/Mount Vernon Duals
  Dec 3, 10:15 PM UTC
Indee JH: MOVE, SOLON
Dec 4, TBD
FloWrestling Radio Live - Dec 4
Today · 10:00 PM UTC
FNIA at Clarion
Today · 10:30 PM UTC
Alonso, FL vs George M. Steinbrenner, FL
Today · 11:00 PM UTC
Allen, TX @ Southlake Carroll, TX
Tomorrow · 10:15 PM UTC
Independence Junior High Extravaganza
Dec 6, 12:00 AM UTC
Marion Center Area Hs, PA @ Conemaugh Tw
Dec 6, 12:00 AM UTC
Long Island vs Bloomsburg
Dec 6-8, 1:00 PM UTC
2024 Ironman
Dec 6, 1:00 PM UTC
2024 Danny Byron Day 1
Dec 6-7, 4:00 PM UTC
Jay Border Wars
Dec 6-7, 5:00 PM UTC
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Dec 6-8, 5:00 PM UTC
Pat Kenny Invitational 2024

Five Former State Champs Make Way Into NFL

Five Former State Champs Make Way Into NFL

Check out the five former state champion wrestlers that were either drafted or signed as undrafted free agents by NFL franchises.

Apr 26, 2020 by Kyle Bratke
null

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

In case you've been living under a rock, the 2020 NFL Draft went down over the past three days and there are plenty of connections to the sport of wrestling. Before the draft got started, I identified four former state wrestling champions (Tristan Wirfs, John Simpson, Nick Coe, Gage Cervenka) who had good chances of getting drafted. This weekend two of those wrestlers heard their names called and two others not mentioned in the article got the chance of a lifetime. 

Unlock this article, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

In case you've been living under a rock, the 2020 NFL Draft went down over the past three days and there are plenty of connections to the sport of wrestling. Before the draft got started, I identified four former state wrestling champions (Tristan Wirfs, John Simpson, Nick Coe, Gage Cervenka) who had good chances of getting drafted. This weekend two of those wrestlers heard their names called and two others not mentioned in the article got the chance of a lifetime. 

While there are players that will be drafted this weekend who wrestled at some point in their life, every player listed below won a state title while in high school and were legit inside the circle.

Tristan Wirfs, Iowa

Drafted By: Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 13th overall pick 

Position: Offensive Tackle

Measurable's: 6' 5", 320 lbs

Many expected Wirfs to be a top-10 pick, but could you ask for a better landing spot? Wirfs will head to Tampa Bay and be expected to be the day one starter at right tackle charged with protecting the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, Tom Brady. The Iowa state champ will also be cashing in big time. 


John Simpson, Clemson

Drafted By: Las Vegas Raiders with the 109th overall pick

Position: Offensive Guard

Measurable's: 6' 4", 321 lbs

Simpson was part of a Clemson offensive line trio that combined to win six high school state championships during their prep careers. The two-time national football champion will now head to Vegas and immediately compete for a starting job in the silver and black. The South Carolina state champ and two-time finalist will also be compensated very well.


Nick Coe, Auburn

Signed By: New England Patriots undrafted free agent 

Position: Defensive End

Measurable's: 6' 5", 280 lbs

To be honest, I have no idea how Nick Coe did not get drafted. Every mock or projected draft I saw had the former FloNationals champion going between the fourth and sixth rounds. However, after the draft concluded, NFL.com rated Coe as the best available edge rusher and he quickly signed a deal with the New England Patriots. 


Josh Hokit, Fresno State

Signed By: San Francisco 49ers undrafted free agent 

Position: Running Back

Measurable's: 6' 1", 225 lbs

While I did not expect Hokit to get drafted, I was hoping I would be able to add him to this article after the fact and the San Francisco 49ers gave me that chance when they signed the California state champ and NCAA All-American to a free-agent contract. 

On the gridiron at Fresno State, Hokit ran for over 1,200 yards and found the end zone a total of 20 times during his collegiate career.

And he can pass...

On the mat for the Bulldogs, Hokit was a 2019 All-American in Pittsburgh when he placed 5th at 197 and was the #12 seed for the 2020 NCAA Championships after putting together a 24-4 season up at heavyweight. 

Hokit is a swiss army knife that Kyle Shanahan will be able to use in a lot of ways and I could also see him being a fantastic special teams player. 


Jan Johnson, Penn State 

Signed By: Houston Texans undrafted free agent 

Position: Linebacker

Measurable's: 6' 2", 231 lbs

Like Hokit, Johnson competed in both wrestling and football during his time in college. In high school, Johnson was a two-time AAA Pennsylvania state champion but elected to walk on to the football team at Penn State. After a rash of injuries at heavyweight, Cael Sanderson went to Johnson and Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin with the idea of Johnson filling in for the Nittany Lions and the two were all for it. While Johnson was just 1-9 during this time on the mat, he stepped up when called upon and was rewarded with a national championship ring.

Back on the gridiron, Johnson went from walk-on to team co-captain during the 2019 season. Johnson finished his Nittany Lion career with 150, tackless, seven of those for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

Johnson will now try to make the team in Houston where the Texans are coached by former Penn State Head Coach, Bill O'Brien. 


Gage Cervenka, Clemson

Projected Round Drafted: 7th (Yet to be signed)

Position: Offensive Guard

Measurable's: 6' 3", 325 lbs 

I wasn't super confident Cervenka would get drafted given that he was projected to go in the final round and unfortunately he was not selected, and at the time of this writing has not been signed yet as an undrafted free agent. Don't panic, there is still plenty of time for the four-time South Carolina state champion to find a home before training camps get underway late this summer.  Who wouldn't want the man that along with the aforementioned John Simspon kept star quarterback Trevor Lawrence safe all year?