Penn State wrestling makes top four for elite 2026 prospect

Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling are among the last programs standing for top 2026 recruit Dreshaun Ross.

On Monday night, the Fort Dodge (Iowa) star announced his list of four finalist schools, including the Nittany Lions with national powers Iowa, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State.

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Now a two-time state champion, Dreshaun Ross became the biggest freshman gold medalist in Iowa 3A state tournament history when he captured the 195-pound title in 2023.

Both FloWrestling and MatScouts rank Ross as the No. 3 recruit in the 2026 cycle, right behind fellow Penn State wrestling targets Jax Forrest and Bo Bassett. He is the No. 16 pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country in FloWrestling’s October 17 rankings update.

A critical factor in Ross’s recruitment could be his prowess on the gridiron. Currently a three-star linebacker, Ross is rated as the No. 5 prospect from Iowa in the 2026 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

As of July, Ross was still undecided about whether to pursue football, wrestling, or both at the next level. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones have already extended football offers, while the Nittany Lions and Cowboys have yet to do so.

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