2020-21 NCAA DI Rankings

174 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:

There's a very good chance future Olympian Myles Amine ends up wrestling at 184 next season. Until we see it, or it gets announced by someone from Ann Arbor, we'll have him at 174 where he last wrestled collegiately. Though Amine's wins over Daniel Lewis are an argument to rank him ahead of Kemerer, the Hawkeye was able to do what Amine was never able to in the NCAA, and that is beat Mark Hall. Because of this, we have Kemerer at #1 to start the season. 

The Nittany Lion faithful have their hopes pinned on redshirt freshman Carter Starocci to replace Mark Hall, a tall order to say the least. Starocci finished his true freshman season, highlighted by a Southern Scuffle title that saw him defeat three national qualifiers along the way.

Thanks to a strong Big Ten tournament and an NCAA tournament that never took place, Mikey Labriola leapfrogs Kaleb Romero thanks to the most recent head-to-head win. Devin Skatzka was previously wedged in between the Big Ten rivals, but his graduation made a reshuffling necessary. 

We're told Demetrius Romero will be getting another year of eligibility and the Wolverines of Utah Valley, who intend to start him at 174-pounds. Romero's win over Joe Smith in 2019 allows him a berth in between Mantanona and Colbray. Those two respectively beat and lost to Smith in 2020. Romero also notably also split matches with Logan Massa at the 2018 CKLV. 

Matt Finesilver (and his brother Josh in the lower weights) return to the Bleu Devil lineup. Finesilver didn't wrestle any folkstyle matches last season but has qualified for two NCAA tournaments in two attempts. 

We've received word that Clay Lautt will return at 174 for North Carolina and Devin Kane will move up to 184, which is where we have both Tar heels ranked.

There's a lot of new talent coming up in the 174-pound ranks, chief among them is Cornell's Chris Foca, who had a solid season while deferring eligibility with the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club. 

Michigan State will be bumping everyone from Jake Tucker to Cam Caffey up a weight class. Drew Hughes picks up a couple spots moving up a weight class thanks to the quality of competitions and strong results he got down at 165. 

Pitt's Gregg Harvey is moving up to 184, which leaves a spot in the rankings for Mizzou's Jeremiah Kent to claim. 

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).