Ready to go: Cael Sanderson details plan for true freshman Penn State wrestling star

For the first time in recent memory, Penn State wrestling has a budding star at 125. Long a weight class that has alluded the Nittany Lions, true freshman Braeden Davis has already become a legitimate national title contender through the early portion of the dual season. Although he was expected to sit out this season, Penn State coach Cael Sanderson recently explained his thought process behind the decision to burn Davis’ redshirt and wrestle the true freshman this year.

Cael Sanderson details rise of Penn State true freshman star

The rise of Braeden Davis through the early portion of the Penn State wrestling season has really been quite impressive. The true freshman is the lone undefeated wrestler remaining at 125, vaulting from unranked to No. 4 in the country at the weight class over the last two weeks. 

One of the top wrestlers in the 2023 cycle, the fact that Braeden Davis is seeing success at the collegiate level isn’t surprising. But what is shocking is how quickly the Belleville, Michigan, native has excelled, given that he wasn’t even pegged as the permanent solution at 125 at the start of the year. 

But after early season dominance, the decision to move forward with Davis at 125 is clear. This week, Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson explained why it was a no-brainer to burn Davis’ redshirt this season.

“It was just kind of like, we’re pulling his redshirt, he’s ready to go,” Sanderson said. “It makes sense timing-wise with our team and just him and where he’s probably going to grow. He’s had to eat disciplined to keep his weight down. And, just who we have on our team and coming in, the lineup we’ll have. So yeah, I think he showed that he was ready to go the first half of the season, and that kind of has been the plan.”

What’s next for Braeden Davis?

Braeden Davis will look to keep his perfect record intact as Penn State wrestling travels to Maryland this weekend. That task appears to be well within reach, as the Terrapins’ Tommy Capul comes into the weekend carrying a 3-7 record in duals this season. Davis will aim to further extend his dominance, carrying a 58% bonus percentage in 12 matches this year. 

The Nittany Lions’ showdown against Maryland in College Park will take place Sunday at noon. The dual will air live on the Big Ten Network. You can check out a full preview of the matchup here.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlet. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can proudly claim a readership of over 3.5 million in our first year of operation.