2020 Crystal Ball Rankings - NCAA DI

The Best HWT Group Ever?

Their stories couldn't be more different. I said it before and I'll stick to it: Gable Steveson was the greatest high school prospect of all time. Anthony Cassar was a one-time state qualifier who went 15-8 at 197 and wasn't a full-time starter until last year when he was an undersized HWT, never wrestling in an NCAA till he won it by beating Gable.

The situation is rather clear: Gable can certainly beat Cassar and has taken him down in both their 4-3 bouts. But Cassar won both and outside of one loss to NCAA finalist Derek White, has matched Gable's dominance over the rest of the field. For now, I'm sticking with Cassar.

Three of the other six AAs return from last year; Wood, Stencel, and Hillger are back with White, Hemida, and Dhesi graduating. Also back are Parris and Elam who both lost in the Blood Round. 

Two excellent freshmen enter the fold in Cassioppi and Kerkvliet, who beat last year's fourth-placer, Wood, twice this summer. 2017 third-placer Tanner Hall is off redshirt as is Jere Heino who beat Hall in 2017 at NCAAs.

I'm going mostly chalk here. Even Kerkvliet at #3 isn't much of a reach. It's a really good, deep weight but I think it's going to be really difficult — even though they're solid — for guys outside the top 10 or 12 to bust in.

My first three and five of the eight placers are from the B1G.