When you look at the current landscape of collegiate wrestling, two major programs have risen to the top of people’s conversations for having the deepest wrestling room in the country: Penn State and Oklahoma State.

Both programs have been able to field multiple National Champions and All-Americans for the past two seasons, as well as garner top tier recruiting classes.

In a place of such high caliber wrestling, once prominent high school names like Joe Seeley (Two-time National Prep Champion from Wyoming Seminary) and Ronnie Ramirez (Two-time State Champion from Walnut High School) have stiff competition to break into the starting line-ups for both PSU and OSU, respectively.

Joe Seeley, who just finished his second season at Penn State, recently defeated two-time National Champion and World Team Member for 3rd place at the US Open at 74kg. Unfortunately for Seeley, to start this next season, he would have to battle out a potential mix of PJ Duke (#1 seed at 2026 NCAA tournament, Senior World Team Member), Tyler Kasak (#1 seed at the 2025 NCAA tournament, two-time All-American), and Mitchell Messenbrink (Two-time National Champion, 2026 Hodge Trophy winner, future American Idol contestant?) to be able to wrestle at 157 or 165 for the Nittany Lions. Seeley has a great opportunity to break into the line up at one of these weights next season, however, there is a decent chance he does not start.

Ronnie Ramirez is another high caliber wrestler in a similar situation. Ramirez finished fourth at the US Open in the U20 division. He was a contender to start this season for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State at 133 pounds, battling it out with transfer Richie Figueroa (2024 NCAA Champion at ASU). Until Jax Forrest showed up.

In an unprecedented move, the high school senior graduated high school early to enter the line up in the second semester, where he went undefeated and won the 133 NCAA title.

With guys like Jax Forrest and Sergio Vega (True Freshman NCAA Champion at 141) on the team, plus the Cowboys bringing in top recruits like Jordyn and Jayden Raney (twin brothers that are ranked Top 10 in the Class of 2026), it is going to make the field fairly deep to make the line up for anyone around 133/141.

Why do these guys not enter the transfer portal?

Joe Seeley and Ronnie Ramirez are guys that could enter the transfer portal, get a bag (that’s slang for an NIL deal), start, and probably contend to be All Americans for another university.

But they aren’t transferring.

They’re staying loyal.

Why?

Because these programs are providing a better product on the mat that makes it more attractive for these guys to stay and duke it out for a spot than enter the transfer portal and leave.

Guys like Joe Seeley and Ronnie Ramirez have the best training situation in the country. Their main workout partners are national champs.. Their coaches are world and olympic champions… They will have a great freestyle training environment if they want to try and make a world team when they are done competing collegiately by training with their college’s RTC.

These guys not entering the transfer portal is a strong indicator of how well PSU and OSU are doing in maintaining a strong culture of excellence.

One that reminds me of Nick Saban’s Alabama program at its peak, where guys would be willing to possibly sit for two-three years behind someone and not start, only so they could have the opportunity to start their senior year, win a national championship, and go pro.

Penn State and Oklahoma State are promising only the opportunity for these guys to reach their goals, the rest is on them.