The Illini Next Year

[ChiefIllini1]

What's the lineup? What weight does Jackson Morse wrestle? Which freshmen will redshirt? Can anyone or anything withstand the force of Jesse Delgado's will?

[MslWrestler119]

Illini Future Outlook

What's the lineup? What weight does Jackson Morse wrestle? Which freshmen will redshirt? Can anyone or anything withstand the force of Jesse Delgado's will?

Here is how I see the Fighting Illini the next couple of years
13-14
125. Jesse Delgado (Jr.)
133. Zane Richards (Fr.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (So.)
149. Caleb Ervin (So.)
157. Jackson Morse (Jr.)
165. Zac Brunson (Fr.)
174. Tony Dallago (Sr.)
184. Nikko Reyes (Fr.)
197. Mario Gonzalez (Sr.)
285. Pat Walker (Sr.) *if he receives a medical RS, if not C. Lopez
Red-shirt: Kyle Langenderfer-149, Isaiah Martinez-157, Brooks Black-285

14-15
125. Jesse Delgado (Sr.)
133. Zane Richards (So.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (Jr.)
149. Caleb Ervin (Jr.)
157. Isaiah Martinez (Fr.)
165. Jackson Morse (Sr.)
174. Zac Brunson (So.)
184. Jeff Koepke (Jr.)
197. Nikko Reyes (So.)
285. Brooks Black (Fr.)

15-16
125. Mark Duda (Fr.) *complete guess, but figured they got the inside track to get him.
133. Zane Richards (Jr.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (Sr.)
149. Kyle Langenderfer (So.)
157. Caleb Ervin (Sr.)
165. Isaiah Martinez (So.)
174. Zac Brunson (Jr.)
184. Jeff Koepke (Sr.)
197. Nikko Reyes (Jr.)
285. Brooks Black (So.)

As of right now this is what they have in stock, but future recruits will change things, and who knows how these athletes will grow. Just a guess to get some debate going.

[Assembly of Dust]

BJ Futrell might get a 6th year. Pretty sure he's gonna get it.

[titan442]

Here is how I see the Fighting Illini the next couple of years
13-14
125. Jesse Delgado (Jr.)
133. Zane Richards (Fr.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (So.)
149. Caleb Ervin (So.)
157. Jackson Morse (Jr.)
165. Zac Brunson (Fr.)
174. Tony Dallago (Sr.)
184. Nikko Reyes (Fr.)
197. Mario Gonzalez (Sr.)
285. Pat Walker (Sr.) *if he receives a medical RS, if not C. Lopez
Red-shirt: Kyle Langenderfer-149, Isaiah Martinez-157, Brooks Black-285

14-15
125. Jesse Delgado (Sr.)
133. Zane Richards (So.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (Jr.)
149. Caleb Ervin (Jr.)
157. Isaiah Martinez (Fr.)
165. Jackson Morse (Sr.)
174. Zac Brunson (So.)
184. Jeff Koepke (Jr.)
197. Nikko Reyes (So.)
285. Brooks Black (Fr.)

15-16
125. Mark Duda (Fr.) *complete guess, but figured they got the inside track to get him.
133. Zane Richards (Jr.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (Sr.)
149. Kyle Langenderfer (So.)
157. Caleb Ervin (Sr.)
165. Isaiah Martinez (So.)
174. Zac Brunson (Jr.)
184. Jeff Koepke (Sr.)
197. Nikko Reyes (Jr.)
285. Brooks Black (So.)

As of right now this is what they have in stock, but future recruits will change things, and who knows how these athletes will grow. Just a guess to get some debate going.

Thanks MSL. I love the Illini like none other, and I'm not so familiar with the college game. This helps a lot.

Let's go orange and blue!!

[ChiefIllini1]

Here is how I see the Fighting Illini the next couple of years
13-14
125. Jesse Delgado (Jr.)
133. Zane Richards (Fr.)
141. Steve Rodrigues (So.)
149. Caleb Ervin (So.)
157. Jackson Morse (Jr.)
165. Zac Brunson (Fr.)
174. Tony Dallago (Sr.)
184. Nikko Reyes (Fr.)
197. Mario Gonzalez (Sr.)
285. Pat Walker (Sr.) *if he receives a medical RS, if not C. Lopez
Red-shirt: Kyle Langenderfer-149, Isaiah Martinez-157, Brooks Black-285

Thank you for your efforts. That looks like what I had in mind except for having Jackson Morse at 165 instead of 157. I was basing that ONLY on my having seen that Morse had wrestled open tournaments at 165 this past season. I never thought he was too heavy for 157. I don't know the scoop on that.

If neither Morse or Brunson could make 157, then it looks like a wrestle-off between Matt Nora and John Fahy. Fahy won Beast of the East two times and four Kentucky State Titles. Sounds like he'll be a player in the lineup. According to his official Illini bio, he finished his redshirt "season 15-1 ... Finished second at the Harris Open and third at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open." (My guess is that he didn't wrestle against an Illini in the same bracket to get the 15-1 record--or the record's just wrong).

My other thought is this, and it's kind of crazy: If Pat Walker is not allowed to wrestle, then move everyone up a slot. For example:

157 Fahy/Nora/Langenderfer
165 Morse
174 Brunson
184 Reyes
197 Dallago
HWT Gonzalez

Mario Gonzalez is one of my favorite Illini, and he wrestled one of my favorite Illini matches of all time as a heavyweight. Of course, my first choice would be to have Pat Walker get his medical redshirt, as he improved like a crazy man from his junior to senior year. I'd like to see what he's got for us next season. Thanks!

[ChiefIllini1]

BJ Futrell might get a 6th year. Pretty sure he's gonna get it.

This is the first I've heard of that. If that could be worked out, and nobody deserves it more than Futrell with his string of hard luck, I would dance in the street.

Thanks!

By the way, the Illini are graduating some incredible Seniors this year, including Futrell, Blanton and Polz. They account for a pretty astonishing assortment of All-American and State medals. I remember watching Daryl Thomas in his first wrestle-off for the Illini, and I thought that kid deserved watching, and he didn't disappoint!

There are some really talented freshmen and redshirt freshmen who have an opportunity to fill some pretty big shoes, and that's exciting.

[FoxesFan]

Gonzalez vs Cornell at HWT?

197 Dallago
HWT Gonzalez

Mario Gonzalez is one of my favorite Illini, and he wrestled one of my favorite Illini matches of all time as a heavyweight. Of course, my first choice would be to have Pat Walker get his medical redshirt, as he improved like a crazy man from his junior to senior year. I'd like to see what he's got for us next season. Thanks!

Are you referring to the match against Cornell in the Duals in 2012. I agree -- awesome match.

[ChiefIllini1]

Are you referring to the match against Cornell in the Duals in 2012. I agree -- awesome match.

Yes! Awesome match!

There have been so many great recent matches, but that's right at the top of my list. A couple that I got to see in person included Twan Pham beating Nick "The Strangler" Simmons in Huff Hall during the Spartan dual. (I'm pretty sure that Reggie Evans was in the MSU lineup and that Brian Glynn mopped the floor with him.) Also, there was freshman Mike Poeta wrestling his heart out up a weight class (165) against returning All-American Ryan Churella from Michigan and getting hosed by the ref in overtime.