Penn State officially lands All-American transfer portal target Rocco Welsh
Rocco Welsh is officially returning to the Keystone State. The former Ohio State wrestler and 2024 All-American entered the transfer portal on March 27 and committed to continue his academic and athletic careers at Penn State on March 30. It’s the latest win for head coach Cael Sanderson and his staff, who have been racking up roster victories ever sine clinching their fourth straight NCAA title last weekend.
Welsh is leaving the Buckeyes after just two seasons. After finishing second following a loss to now five-time national champ and Nittany Lion Carter Starocci in the 174-pound finals in 2024, the Waynesburg, Pa., native bumped up to 184 as a sophomore. He did not compete in the Ohio State starting lineup, though, and instead went 11-0 wrestling unattached in open tournaments. Buckeyes coach Tom Ryan had to quash rumors in December that Welsh was transferring then. Ryan told reporters at the time that Welsh’s options were to wrestle off with a then-injured Carson Kharchla for the 174-pound once he was healthy, move up to 184, or take a redshirt year. Welsh chose the latter than and is choosing to leave Columbus now.
The best thing for him is to redshirt,” Ryan said at the end of 2024, per FLO. “The best thing for the team long-term is for him to redshirt.”
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It’s believed that Welsh, who has three years of eligibility remaining, will compete at 184 pounds for Penn State. Redshirt freshman Zack Ryder is at least one of the wrestlers he will have to contend with to earn a starting spot. If he goes down to 174, that spot is currently occupied by All-American and senior Levi Haines, who does have a redshirt year available if he wanted to use it.
Recapping the Penn State offseason so far
There has been a fluery of activity on the roster construction front since Penn State stepped off the raised podium in Philadelphia as NCAA champs. Six Nittany Lions — Alex Facundo, Gary Steen, Aurelieus Dunbar, David Evans, Marco Vespa, and AJ Fricchone — are in the portal. Japanese superstar and reigning junior and senior level 61 kilogram (134 pounds) champ Masanosuke Ono announced on March 24 that he is coming to Penn State to compete next season. And, Class of 2026 standout Jayden James, who won the New Jersey 150-pound title this season and was named the Garden State’s wrestler of the year by NJ.com, flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to the Nittany Lions on March 25.
