Penn State wrestling thwarts push from David Taylor, Oklahoma State for NCAA Finalist transfer: reports

Penn State wrestling may be the gold standard of college wrestling at the moment, but David Taylor is pushing Oklahoma State back into the national picture. The Cowboys finished third with 102.5 points at last week’s NCAA Championships and had the biggest moment of the tournament when heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson upset two-time NCAA Champion and Gold Medalist Gable Steveson.

Taylor immediately sought to build on his success by hitting the recruiting trail and transfer portal, including attempting to take on his former coach, Cael Sanderson.

Penn State appears to be on the verge of another massive roster addition, with reports surfacing Thursday evening that the Nittany Lions were the frontrunner for Ohio State transfer and 2024 NCAA Finalist Rocco Welsh. The 174/184 pounder would likely be an immediate starter after going 15-0 in open tournaments during his redshirt freshman season in 2025.

But just as all signs pointed to Welsh joining the Nittany Lions, wrestling insider Pat Mineo and MatScouts reported Friday morning that David Taylor was flying directly to Welsh’s house to pitch him on transferring to Stillwater instead.

Cael Sanderson reportedly holds off late push from David Taylor, Oklahoma State

However, later Friday morning, Justin Basch reported that Taylor would ultimately not get the opportunity to make his case to Welsh. Mineo confirmed the story, writing:

“Rocco Welsh canceled his last-minute meeting with David Taylor this morning- turned off the jets- there will be no interference or chance to change this commitment.

“As reported yesterday, Rocco Welsh will be a Penn State Nittany Lion.”

🚨BREAKING: Rocco Welsh cancelled his last minute meeting with David Taylor this morning- turn off the jets- there will be no interference or chance to change this commitment.

As reported yesterday, Rocco Welsh be a Penn State Nittany Lion.

That was fun.

— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) March 28, 2025

It was also reported Friday that Oklahoma State was making a late push to flip the No. 4 wrestler in the 2026 class, Jayden James, from Virginia Tech. On Tuesday, James changed his commitment from the Hokies to the Nittany Lions.

While Sanderson appears to have outmatched his former protégé this week, these recruiting battles will only intensify as Taylor produces more results and Oklahoma State builds out its NIL war chest.

Penn State wrestling continues to get stronger

As Penn State wrestling prepares to add another All-American in Welsh, the Nittany Lions’ lineup is flooded with depth it arguably doesn’t even need. The Nittany Lions already have NCAA Champion and three-time All-American Levi Haines at 174 pounds and top 10 pound-for-pound recruit in 2024 Zack Ryder, who projects to either 174 or 184 pounds. Haines has one year of eligibility remaining, Welsh has three, and Ryder has all four years.

The backlog of talent isn’t just at the upper weight classes. On Monday, news broke that Penn State was adding 2024 World Champion Masanosuke Ono to its lineup, most likely at either 133 or 141. He will compete with rising junior and All-American Braeden Davis and top 2025 recruit Marcus Blaze (133/141) for one of two starting spots.

Penn State wrestling is the epitome of the rich getting richer. Right now, it appears the chance to share a room with some of the top wrestlers in the world is just too good to pass up.

Until we see other teams start to compete with Sanderson and Penn State wrestling at the NCAA Championships, don’t expect this string of recruiting success to stop anytime soon. David Taylor may be building something at Oklahoma State, but there is still a large gap between his program and the Nittany Lions.

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