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Penn State wrestling: Cael Sanderson speaks at NFL training camp, meets with Olympic Gold Medalist

Before his trip to Paris for the Olympics, Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson was a guest speaker at the Buffalo Bills training camp, where he bumped into another wrestling icon.

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6 months ago

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Penn State wrestling, Cael Sanderson, Gable Steveson, Buffalo Bills
Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson (center) reacts during a dual meet against Ohio State on Feb. 2, 2024, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions won, 28-9. © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson recently made a trip to the Buffalo Bills training camp to speak with the team. While he was there, the Nittany Lions coach snapped a picture with NCAA wrestling great Gable Steveson. The former Minnesota Gopher wrestling heavyweight was released by the WWE a few months ago and is looking to try his luck in the NFL as a defensive tackle.

Penn State wrestling fans will remember how much hype Steveson had entering his true freshman year. He suffered only two losses the entire 2018-19 season, both to Nittany Lion heavyweight Anthony Cassar. It resulted in a second place finish in the Big Ten Championships and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Steveson never lost again in college after that, finishing with an 83-2 career record and winning three Big Ten titles and two national titles. The 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gable Steveson then went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over reigning world champion Geno Patriashvili of Georgia.

Cael Sanderson makes the trip to Buffalo before Paris

Syndication: Democrat and Chronicle

Cael Sanderson was invited to the Buffalo Bills training camp as a special guest by head coach Sean McDermott. He is the second legendary wrestler that the Bills head coach has brought to camp. McDermott also had Olympic and World Champion Jordan Burroughs at the facility.

The Penn State wrestling head coach made the stop before heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. The NLWC will feature four of the six U.S. Men’s Freestyle wrestlers and Roman Bravo-Young representing Mexico.

The Olympics will be another chance for Penn State to feature its program and potential after graduating to have a successful career in wrestling, something that will have major implications on Sanderson and the Nittany Lions holding control as the top destination for elite recruits.

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Former contributor at Nittany Central, Patrick joined Basic Blues Nation in 2023 as the Social Media Director, Penn State Wrestling beat writer, and producer of the Penn State Roar Room spaces. Patrick is also a contributor of Penn State football, basketball, and ice hockey news for the site.

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