Wrestling Roundup: Antrell Taylor Wins Nebraska Male FOY, PORTAL Updates

We’re nearly two months into the offseason for collegiate folkstyle wrestling, but there is still news to be shared about the Nebraska wrestling team.

First of all, it was a proud moment for the home-grown Antrell Taylor who was named Nebraska’s Male Freshman of the Year in late April.

A former three-time Class A state champion for Millard South, Taylor went 23-10 as a redshirt freshman this past season, finishing eighth at the NCAA tournament to earn All-American honors. He’s on track and will have the chance to become just the fourth four-time All-American in school history if he keeps on his current trajectory, possibly joining his coaches Bryan Snyder and James Green as well as former teammate Mikey Labriola who all have that distinction.

Regardless, Taylor looks like the type of wrestler you build around considering his accomplishments in his first year starting. He’s only going to get better.

Transfer Portal News

Nebraska has had some success in the transfer portal as of late, snagging guys like Liam Cronin (2023 All-American), Caleb Smith (2024 All-American) and Kyle Burwick in recent years.

It’s obvious that Nebraska prefers to recruit from high school and develop them while sometimes hitting the portal to address holes in the lineup from time to time. As for guys leaving in the portal, Nebraska hasn’t had a relevant starter hit the portal since its inception. Generally, the guys from Nebraska that enter the portal are backups or guys coming off redshirts that know they may never get in the lineup. That’s something about college athletics now that everyone is going to have to just get used to.

The window to enter the portal in college wrestling was March 20 through May 3, unless your school just went through a coaching change. With the portal closed for Husker wrestlers, we now know everyone who chose to enter it. Nebraska has five wrestlers in the portal and has one transferring in so far.

With such a big class of freshmen redshirting last season, it was bound to happen that some of these young guys didn’t see a path to the lineup — which is okay. I know that this Husker staff is very transparent with their guys and helps them find landing spots when things just don’t work out for whatever reason.

Huskers In Transfer Portal

Ethan Stiles (R-Fr.) - 157 pounds

Kyle Burwick (Sr.) - 133 pounds

Drew Cooper (R-Fr.) - 133 pounds

Tanner Frothinger (R-Fr.) - 141 pounds

Griffin Ray (R-Fr.) - 165 pounds

The biggest surprise by far was seeing Ethan Stiles on that list. A prized recruit in the class of 2023, Stiles redshirted last season and went 15-3. He fought hard and had a chance to win in a 7-2 loss to a top 5-ranked Jacori Teemer of Arizona State. The only reason that I can think of for him leaving is because Antrell Taylor is planning to move down to 157 pounds with Peyton Robb now moving on. With Taylor a sophomore and Stiles a freshman next season, that would be a long time to wait. I would argue two points there though: 1. A young guy like Stiles can move up to 165 like Taylor did and compete for that spot in the lineup. 2. With how guys tend to move up as they get older, I would anticipate Taylor moving back to 165 at some point depending on team need and how his body matures. Regardless, I do think this is a tough blow for this team and this staff. I wish he would stay, he’s really good. This move doesn’t impact the team this next year, but it certainly will alter how this staff puts together future lineups and who they recruit for a bit.

Next is Kyle Burwick, the former Badger who came to Nebraska and started the 2022-23 season at 133 pounds before losing that spot to Jacob Van Dee last year. Van Dee went on to qualify for NCAAs as a redshirt freshman. Burwick has been a great addition to this team, but with the emergence of Van Dee, I don’t fault him for leaving. In fact, I wish him the best and hope he lands somewhere that works out for him. I’ll be rooting for him wherever he goes.

I would guess that the emergence of Van Dee also influenced Drew Cooper’s decision to get in the portal. The former Nebraska state champion for Omaha Skutt, Cooper redshirted last year going 4-4 on the year at 133.

At 141 pounds, Tanner Frothinger entered the portal after going 13-5 as a redshirt. A solid developmental prospect, I was slightly surprised he entered the portal after a pretty successful redshirt campaign.

As for Griffin Ray at 165, I think that came down to just a crowded room. Nebraska could have up to seven guys competing for that starting spot next season. Ray would probably not be a serious contender for the open starting gig. He has found a new home and will wrestle next season for SIU Edwardsville.

Nebraska Adds Buffalo Transfer

As for Nebraska’s portal addition, they snagged Sam Ewing from Buffalo after they had a change at head coach this season. A 141-pounder, Ewing went 13-12 as a redshirt this past season at Buffalo.

In high school, Ewing was a three-time Missouri state champion for Pleasant Hill. He had a career record of 177-8 in high school and was twice named a preseason All-American. As a senior, he recorded 36 wins via pinfall.

As for his lineup fit goes, he has four years of eligibility remaining. Watching his matches, he looks big for the weight and I could see him moving to 149 in Lincoln. This season, Nebraska has All-Americans Brock Hardy and Ridge Lovett at 141 and 149, so it’s very unlikely Ewing cracks the lineup. I could see him getting bigger and competing at 149 in 2025 after Lovett graduates.

It’s not an impact transfer, but all that eligibility remaining makes it a solid move that should help the team in the future when Hardy and Lovett are gone.