“Wrestling is certainly an art - no longer does brute strength predominate in wrestling. It is science and condition that carry the wrestler successfully through his encounters. The idea of roughness and brutality is no longer synonymous with wrestling, because science has replaced those aspects with more beneficial retributions.

Wrestling, like football, trains the individual to think and act while in action and under pain. Scientific wrestling helps to construct a sound body and an alert mind, two precious aids of any individual in the struggle of the survival of the fittest.

I believe that wrestling as adopted and practiced in prep schools and universities, under trained coaches, is one of the best constructive sports that an individual can take part in and should be encouraged in prep schools, universities, and other institutions whose aim is to develop young men.”

-Bob Stoops, Head Coach - Oklahoma
 “Having played football at the University of Iowa and gotten to know legendary Iowa Coach Dan Gable, I have become a big fan of the sport of wrestling. In addition to enjoying the sport, I am convinced that wrestling as a sport is extremely beneficial to football and believe that high school coaches would benefit greatly by allowing their players to wrestle and by recruiting wrestlers. Wrestling helps develop discipline to stay in one’s stance. Wrestlers also generally have good balance, understand leverage and know how to use their hands. This benefits them in blocking, defending blocks and tackling. Perhaps the greatest benefit of wrestling is developing mental and physical toughness. Many of the top football programs like Nebraska have a number of former wrestlers on their team. We have several and I not only allow, but have encouraged these to wrestle in the off-season. I am a football man, but have the greatest respect for wrestling and all those who compete in wrestling.”

- Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Luke Fickell:

Size doesn't impress Luke Fickell.

Each year, Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator evaluates dozens, maybe hundreds of high school football players while recruiting.

They're all big, all fast, all strong.

But tell Fickell a kid is a standout wrestler, and he'll get a gleam in his eye. Now he's interested.

"We talk about competitiveness, and I don't think there's a better sport to look at someone's competitiveness than wrestling," Fickell said. "You can tell (with wrestlers), it's something that's one-on-one competitive, and that's what we're trying to look for.

"You can't define it. You don't know what someone has got inside their chest and their heart, but if you know they've been one on one and they've got that competitive nature … "

NFL Players that have wrestled

*Pro-Bowler

**Hall of Famer

 Shane Olivea

Alex Stepanovich

Nick Leckey - TX State Champ

Gregory Walker - State Finalist

Jonathan Condo

Zachary Wilson

Chris Laskowski

Luis Castillo, DT, Chargers (First Round Pick)

Lincoln Hodgdon, C, Texans - CA State Champ

Nick Hardwick

Fred Weary, C, Texans - AL State Champ

Coy Wire, SS, Buffalo Bills - PA State Champ

Kevin Breedlove - SC State Finalist

Kevin Sampson - NJ State Champ

Benjamin Claxton - GA State Finalist

Trevor Johnson

Clinton "C.J." Brooks, Jr.

Tai Tupai

Leon Robinson - GA State Runner-Up

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - 2x SC State Champ (First Round Pick)

Eric Ghiaciuc, C, Bengals - MI State Champ

Joey Hildbold

Adam Seward, ILB, Panthers - NV State Champ

Cody Johnson

Rodney Michael

Marques Harris - CO State Champ

Larry Turner

Andrew "Tyler" Lenda - District Champ

Tim Anderson - OH State Champ

Tony Pape

Matt Roth - IA State Champ

Mike Patterson, DT, Eagles (First Round Pick)

David Pollack

Tim Burrough - OK State Champ

Antoineo Harris - IL State Champ

Claude Harriott

Scott Wells - TN State Champ

Alex Lewis - District Champ

Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins (#2 Pick)

Rodney Leisle

Nick Newton

Sean Tufts

Brian Save

Kevin Atkins

Josh Minkins - District Runner-up

Tim Euhus

Andrew Tidwell-Neal - MN State Champ

Renaldo Works

Patrick "Bucky" Babcock - IL State Champ

Morgan Pears

Art Baker, RB, Buffalo Bills

Rhonde Barber, SS, Bay Buccaneers

Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants

Walter Barnes, DL, Redskins - SEC Champ

Eric Bateman, OL, New York Jets

Harris Benton

Brad Benson, Giants – PA State Champ

Greg Boone, RB, Oakland Raiders

Jeff Bostic*, C, Redskins–SC State Champ

Tedy Bruschi*, ILB, New England Patriots

Bob Bruenig*, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Phil Bryant, Eagles – 2x Nat. Prep Champ

Ralph Cindrich, Oilers – PA State 2nd

Jonathan Condo, LS, Dallas Cowboys - PA State Champ, Dapper Dan Champ

Tom Cousineau*, LB, Browns – 3rd State

Tom Covert*, OT, Chicago Bears

Chris Cooley, WR, Washington Redskins

Roger Craig*, RB, San Francisco 49’ers

Damien Covington, LB, Buffalo Bills

Curley Culp*, DL, Chiefs – NCAA Champ

Larry Czonka**, RB, Miami Dolphins

Rob Davis, ST, Green Bay Packers

Dan Dierdorff**, OT, St. Louis Cardinals

Donnie Edwards, OLB, Chargers

Carl Edwards, Chargers – 3x MD St. Chp

Rob Essink, Seahawks – NCAA DII Champ

Jim Everett, QB, New Orleans Saints

DeMarco Farr, St. Louis Rams

Patrick Flannery, OL, Houston Oilers

Ed Flanagan, C, Detroit Lions

Terrell Fletcher, RB, San Diego Chargers

Bill Fralic*, G,  Atlanta Falcons

Doug France*, LT, Rams – OH State Runner-Up

Frank Garcia, C, Rams – 2x AZ St. Champ

William George, Bears–2x PA St. Champ

Charlie Getty, RG, Chiefs – 2x NCAA All-American

John Gilmore, TE, Chicago Bears

Kevin Glover*, C, Detroit Lions

La’Roi Glover*, DE, Dallas Cowboys

Mike Goff, G, Cincinnati Bengals

Bob Golic*, DT, Browns – OH St. Champ

Mike Golic, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Darien Gordon, PR/CB, Denver Broncos

Scottie Graham, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Tim Green, DE, Atlanta Falcons

Kelly Gregg, NT, Ravens, 3x KS St. Champ

Morlon Greenwood, OLB, Miami Dolphins

Archie Griffin, HB, Cincinnati Bengals

Nick Griesen, LB, New York Giants

Randy Grossman, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

John Hannah**, G, New England Patriots

John Hartunian

Carlton Haselrig*, Steelers, 3x NCAA Champ

Ron Heller, TE, Seattle Seahawks

Chad Hennings, DT, Cowboys – IA State Champ

Jay Hilgenberg*, C, Bears – IA State Runner-Up

Orlando Huff, MLB, Seattle Seahawks

Corey Hulsy, G, Oakland Raiders

Bo Jackson*, RB, Oakland Raiders

Mario Johnson, DT, New England Patriots

Dahanie Jones, LB, New York Giants

Henry Jordan**, DT, Green Bay Packers

Dave Joyner, OL, Green Bay Packers

John Jurkovich*, DT, Cleveland Browns

Alex Karras, Detroit Lions

Tim Krumrie*, DL, Bengals – WI State Champ

Ernie Ladd, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

Nick Lecky, C, - KS State Champ (in 2004 NFL Draft)

Jess Lewis, LB, Houston Oilers

Ray Lewis*, Baltimore Ravens – 2x FL State Champ

Ronnie Lott**, DB, San Francisco 49’ers

Kirk Lowdermilk*, OL, Minnesota Vikings

Sean Mahan, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Malczyk, LS, New York Giants

Joel Mackavicka, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Steve Martin, DT, Houston Texans

Mickey Marvin, RG, Oakland Raiders

Napolean McCallum, RB, Oakland Raiders

Randle McDaniel*, G, Minnesota Vikings

Mark McDonald, SS, Arizona Cardinals

Chris McIntosh, T, Seattle Seahawks

Bryant McKinnie, T. Minnesota Vikings

Greg Meisner, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Matt Millen*, LB, Oakland Raiders

Ronald Moore, RB, Cleveland Browns

James Mungro, HB, Indianapolis Colts

Jim Nance, FB, New England Patriots – NCAA Champ

Lorenzo Neal, FB, Tennessee Titans - NCAA Champ

Stephen Neal, OL, Patriots – NCAA Champ

Jeremy Newberry, C, San Francisco 49’ers

Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers – PA State Champ

Leo Nomellini*, T, 49’ers – Big 10 Champ

Jonathan Ogden*, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Irv Pankey, Los Angeles Rams – 2x MD State Champ

David Patten, WR, New England Patriots

Scott Peters, G, New York Giants

Bob Pickens, OL, Chicago Bears

Jim Plunkett*, QB, Oakland Raiders

Dave Porter, T, Green Bay Packers

Mike Pyle, C, Chicago Bears – IA State Champ

Rocky Rasley, G, Detroit Lions

Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals

Eric Rhett, RB, Cleveland Browns – FL State Champ

Willie Roaf*, OT, New Orleans Saints

Warren Sapp*, DT Buccaneers – FL State Champ

Mark Schlereth*, OL, Redskins - Alaska State Champ

Cory Schlesinger, LB, Detroit Lions - NE State Champ

Steve Sefter, DT, Eagles, 2x PA St. Ch. & NCAA All-American

Tony Siragusa*, DT, Ravens – NJ State Champ

Fred Smerlas*, Buffalo Bills - MA State Champ

Bruce Smith**, DE, Washington Redskins

Brad St. Louis, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Matt Suhey, RB, Chicago Bears

Bill Szott, OL, Redskins – NJ State Champ

Dave Szott, Kansas City Chiefs – NJ State Champ

Woody Thompson, RB, Falcons – PA St. Champ

Jim Thorpe**, HB, New York Giants

Mike Trgovac, DC, Panthers – OH State Champ

Kyle Turley*, T, St. Louis Rams

Ryan Turnbull, RB, Cleveland Browns

Tommy Vardell, RB, San Francisco 49’ers

Adam Vinatieri*, K, New England Patriots

John Ward, OL, Jets – NCAA All-American

Fred Weary, DB, St. Louis Rams

Charles White*, HB, Los Angeles Rams

Randy White*, DT, Dallas Cowboys

Cory Widmer, LB, New York Giants

Leo Wisniewski, NT, Colts - PA St. Champ

Steve Wisniewski, G, Raiders - CA St. Ch.

Ricky Williams*, RB, Miami Dolphins

Coy Wire, LB, Buffalo Bills – PA State Runner-Up

Greg Wojochowski, St. Louis Rams

 *Pro-Bowler

**Hall of Famer