Penn State starter Braeden Davis facing resisting arrest, drunkenness charges

Penn State wrestling 133-pound starter Braeden Davis is awaiting a preliminary hearing stemming from an incident in the weeks following March’s NCAA Wrestling Championships.

In documents filed with the Centre County Magisterial District Court on Monday, Davis is facing two second-degree misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest and evading arrest on foot, a third-degree misdemeanor for trespassing, and two summary offenses for public drunkenness and the purchasing of alcohol by a minor. The incident, which occurred on March 29, was first reported by Joe Lister of Onward State on Wednesday.

According to the report from the criminal complaint, Davis and a friend were seen leaving the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity in the early hours of March 29 after police were called about a potential trespassing at the State College property. The two had already been told by a hired security guard to leave the house, and both smelled of alcohol, according to police.

Before he had been identified by police, Davis asked the investigating officer if he could leave. He proceeded to move his friend between him and the officer, which police viewed as an attempt to flee. Davis then attempted to run after police took hold of his sweatshirt but was caught and subdued within 10 yards.

The Nittany Lion was later determined to have a blood alcohol content of .225% at the time of his arrest. While there were no injuries, police reported minor damages to the arresting officer’s equipment as a result of the struggle.

A Penn State wrestling spokesperson acknowledged that the school was aware of the incident but would not comment further on any legal matters.

Davis projected for battle in 2026 Penn State wrestling lineup

Penn State wrestling 133-pounder Braeden Davis. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

The week prior to the incident, Davis ended his sophomore year with a career-best fifth-place All-American finish at the NCAA Championships at 133 pounds. He went 17-7 record with a 29.17% bonus in 2025, and was key in Penn State wrestling becoming the second team in history to place all ten starters as All-Americans.

However, in 2026, Davis is expected to compete with two Nittany Lion newcomers for starting spots at 133 and 141. Incoming No. 1 overall ranked recruit Marcus Blaze is projected to start at 141 pounds, while World Champion Masanosuke Ono of Japan will also be looking to crack the starting lineup. All three wrestlers will be eligible to redshirt next year.

Davis holds a 39-11 career record and is currently projected to start the 2026 season ranked No. 6, according to WrestleStat.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.