Penn State wrestling: Ex-Nittany Lion makes transfer portal pick, set to chase individual title

Former Penn State wrestling veteran Terrell Barraclough is heading home. On Monday, Barraclough announced that he had committed to Utah Valley out of the transfer portal. The move puts the five-year veteran of the Nittany Lions roster roughly an hour away from where he became a four-time Utah State Champion in high school. Barraclough entered the portal on April 29 for his sixth and final season of eligibility.

Penn State wrestling veteran transfers to Utah Valley

Monday, Terrell Barraclough announced that he is returning home, transferring to Utah Valley University. The former Nittany Lion was one of the top prospects in the transfer portal after going 42-19 in his five seasons with Penn State wrestling.

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A post shared by Terrell Barraclough (@swa_barraclough)

Barraclough went 12-2 with a 50% bonus percentage in a backup role last season. The only two losses were an 8-5 decision to teammate and eventual National Runner-Up Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds and a 2-1 decision to Michigan’s Shane Griffith, the 2021 National Champion.

A four-time Utah State Champion, Barraclough clearly chose being close to home as a priority for his last season of COVID eligibility.

New Utah Valley head coach Adam Hall expressed his excitement for the graduate transfer choosing his program.

“Utah Valley wrestling just got stronger by bringing home a UT native!” Hall wrote on social media Monday. “We’re excited to help Terrell chase a national title! Go Wolverines!”

.@UVUwre just got stronger by bringing home a UT native! We’re excited to help Terrell chase a national title! Go Wolverines! pic.twitter.com/gxA5Kx4p9e

— Adam Hall (@coachhallstar) June 10, 2024

Is Terrell Barraclough a national contender?

Terrell Barraclough was one of the best backup wrestlers in the country last season. He would have been a starter on most college rosters in 2024. But at Penn State, he never could find a roster spot, with Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, and Carter Starocci all taking up his potential weight classes.

Now, there’s no reason why the ex-Nittany Lion wouldn’t be among the top All-American contenders heading into the 2024-25 season.

Barraclough hung with both Mesenbrink and Shane Griffith last season. With the depth at 165 pounds seeming a little weaker this year, there’s reason to believe that Terrell Barraclough could make some noise at the weight class at Nationals.

Currently, WrestleStat ranks the former Nittany Lion No. 8 in the country at 165, putting him on the All-American bubble for 2025.

At Utah Valley, Barraclough will also benefit from wrestling in a solid Big 12. While it may not have the depth that he would see in the Big Ten, it still has plenty of top teams, such as Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Northern Iowa, and Missouri.

These programs will give Barraclough experience with championship-level competitors and give him a chance to meet his former Penn State wrestling teammates in Philadelphia next March.

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