Rutgers Going All In for Top Ranked Wrestling Recruit AJ Ferrari

Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano were humungous additions to Rutgers Wrestling in their own respective timelines and were integral to making the Scarlet Knights a wrestling powerhouse. While Suriano has one more season to win his second national title, head coach Scott Goodale and company have their eyes set on another prized addition. This one, would put them in the National Title race this season.

Meet AJ Ferrari: the No. 1 pound for pound wrestling recruit in the United States.

He’s been all over the place. Currently, he resides in Allen, Texas where he will finish his high school career. Previously, he was wrestling for New Jersey power Blair Academy before transferring to Bergen Catholic. He was dominant in both places, but was ineligible for the individual postseason in 2019 due to his late transfer. While he was wrestling at both 195 and 220 pounds, the case can be made he would have been the favorite to take home a state title.

Since his move back home to Texas, there has been tremendous speculation as to where he will end up. There’s no question, he loves Jersey.

The other schools on his list include Oklahoma State, Penn State, Ohio State and Nebraska. He has already received visits from Oklahoma State and Nebraska, while Rutgers was his first official visit to a campus.

The Rutgers fans seem excited and will do anything they can to get Ferrari on campus.

Even wrestlers such as NJRTC and 86 KG World Team member Pat Downey and incoming 2020 commit Connor O’Neill are making their case.

The biggest accolade for Ferrari is his international experience at the Cadet level. He finished as a Cadet Bronze Medalist at the 2018 World Championships. It’s safe to say he’s ready.

How does he fit in the Rutgers Wrestling room? Or should I say, soon to be finished, state of the art, BRAND NEW Rutgers Wrestling room?

At the moment, Ferrari projects as a 197 pound prospect, but that in no way means he can’t bulk up to roughly 235-245 pounds to be a collegiate heavyweight. He spent time at 220 pounds in high school, so it is doable, and the kid is phenomenal athlete. At either weight, Ferrari would be given an opportunity to compete for either spot. With his potential, he could contend as an All-American immediately. He’s that sought after.

Ferrari also loves his Italian pride. So much so, recent graduate and 4x NCAA Qualifier Nick Gravina hosted Ferrari on his visit to campus this past weekend. If you readers remember, I coined Gravina as the “Stone Cold Eye-Tal-Ee-An.” Why not continue the tradition?

If Rutgers looks this good in the offseason, just imagine what he might see during the 2019-20 campaign.