The crowded Penn State wrestling national championship room may be losing its most promising prospect yet.
Could he possibly follow a former Nittany Lion mentor out West, too?
Redshirt freshman Zack Ryder reportedly is entering the NCAA transfer portal less than two weeks after Penn State won its fourth straight national title − and just a few days after Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh announced he would join the program and, ultimately, compete against Ryder for a starting spot.
Ryder was one of the nation's top high school wrestlers and a three-time junior world team member. He won a silver medal at the 2024 U-20 championships in Spain.
He figured to fight fellow redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola for the open 184-pound spot next season − that is until Welsh, a national finalist two seasons ago, was added to the mix.
Ryder's transfer intentions were first reported by national wrestling insider Justin Basch, host of the BaschAMania podcast.
Ryder went 8-0 for the Nittany Lions during this past redshirt season, which included crushing the 184-pound field to win a Southern Scuffle title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Ryder was a four-time New York state champion at Minisink Valley High and the No. 6 overall ranked wrestler in the 2024 recruiting class, according to FloWrestling.
Penn State wrestling: Could Zack Ryder join David Taylor at Oklahoma State?
He's the eighth and arguably the highest-regarded Nittany Lion to transfer away from ...
