Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State wrestling lands MatScout's No. 1 recruiting Class of 2025

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/19/25•

GregPickel

penn-state-wrestling-cael-sanderson-selders-2025
Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson. (Photo courtesy of Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics)

Penn State wrestling is bringing another highly-regarded group of high school recruits into its program this year. That headlines today’s newsstand. Willie Saylor of MatScouts put the Nittany Lions at No. 1 in his Class of 2025 team rankings. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team becomes the first program to land back-to-back top classes since the rankings began in 2020. The list of newcomers is headlined by the top senior wrestlers in the country, New York’s PJ Duke and Ohio’s Marcus Blaze. It also includes top 60 recruits William Henckel (Connecticut, No. 18), Asher Cunningham (Pa., No. 22), Nate Desmond (Pennsylvania, No. 39), and Dalton Perry (Pa., No. 54).

“Although their games are quite different, Duke and Blaze are about as college-ready as they get,” Saylor writes. “Duke is as proficient at scoring than just about any recruit ever, and Blaze is un-takedown-able. Literally. He didn’t give up a takedown in high school. Cunningham, an Ironman finalist and this year’s S32 Champ, made giant leaps after his Sophomore year. Him and Henckel will provide excellent depth in the upperweights where PSU has been dominant. 

“Desmond and Perry have both reached major tournament finals.”

You can see the full Class of 2025 team rankings from MatScouts on Rofkin by clicking here. Blaze could slot right into the Penn State lineup at 141 pounds this winter. Perry also projects to fit in that weight class. Duke figures to redshirt while waiting for a spot at either 157 or 175 pounds. Cunningham projects to start his career behind senior Levi Haines at 174 pounds. And Henckel is an upper weight who will likely redshirt while waiting for an opportunity at either 184 or 197 pounds.

Headlines of the day

Khary Adams shares where Penn State now ranks among his Top 4 schools following official visit: Snyder, BWI

Penn State epic comeback topples Notre Dame to reach NCAA semis: Bauer, BWI

Penn State moves up 4-star CB Camren Hamiel’s list after official visit to Happy Valley: Simmons, On3

Can you name every Penn State football captain of the James Franklin era?: Pickel, BWI

Penn State has coveted targets in Happy Valley, pushing for a Top 10 class: Wiltfong, On3

Quote of the day

“Before this visit, Penn State was in my top four just knowing a little about the program and how I felt about the coaches, but not, they are top two or top three,” Hamiel told On3. “I felt way more comfortable about them and after the visit, I feel really good about Penn State and the coaching staff there.”

Goodyear (Ariz.) Desert Edge cornerback Camren Hamiel to On3 after his PSU official visit.

You may also like