2020-21 NCAA DI Rankings

165 Pounds

Every weight class explanation will include the following preseason caveats. Chiefly, that it is far too early to know the weight classes in which every wrestler in the NCAA will be going. A great many wrestlers themselves probably do not know that with any amount of certainty. Furthermore, Covid-19 and the postponed 2020 Olympics through yet more uncertainty into the mix. 

As more information about if and where wrestlers will be competing becomes publically available, we will update the rankings accordingly. For the most part, we will be assuming that no redshirt years will be taken, neither will any weight classes be changed. However, as noted, all that will very likely change in the ensuing months, as will the rankings. 

Notes:

Some big guns return to 165, namely 2019's national champion Mekhi Lewis and 2017's third placer Logan Massa, although it's very possible one or both of them wrestle 174 next season. Michigan could see Massa, Myles Amine and Jelani Embree all bump up to make room for Cameron Amine at 165, which would cause substantial changes to the top 25 at all four weight classes.

NC State's Thomas Bullard gets a minor bump thanks to late-season wins over David McFadden and Jake Wentzel. 

Elsewhere, Joe Lee looks to step in to fill the imposing shoes of Vincenzo Joseph for the Nittany Lions. One state over, Carson Kharchla projects to have as high a ceiling as any freshman. Kharchla went undefeated while redshirting and will likely force national-qualifier Ethan Smith onto the Buckeye bench. Also look for Emil Soehnlen to get a medical waiver on last season as injuries forced him to call it a season for the Boilermakers after the CKLV in the first week of December. 

Michigan State will be bumping everyone from Jake Tucker to Cam Caffey up a weight class. Tucker maintains his position at #21 while moving up, and no one gets bumped from the rankings as he is taking over for his teammate, Drew Hughes, who was previously in the preseason 165-pound rankings. 

Questions or comments for the rankers? We welcome and encourage your feedback. Hit up Andrew Spey (email: Andrew.Spey@flosports.tv; Twitter: @SpeyWrestle) and David Bray (email: David.Bray@flosports.tv; Twitter: @_DavidBray).