If the 2017-18 Ohio State wrestling team is going to defend it's Big Ten Wrestling title, they're going to do so without Jose Rodriguez, the Buckeye starter at 125 throughout the 2016-17 season.
News broke on Thursday that Rodriguez was transferring from Ohio State, and Tom Ryan confirmed the rumor.
"We wish Jose nothing but the best as he continues his journey to become the best version of himself on and off the mat," Ryan told Eleven Warriors.
Rodriguez redshirted his first year on campus, then became the starter at 125 for the Buckeyes as they won their second Big Ten tournament in three seasons. Jose placed seventh at the Big Ten tournament to advance to his first NCAA tournament, where he was 1-2. He amassed a record of 16-12 in his redshirt freshman campaign for the Buckeyes.
With Jose's departure, the Buckeye program takes a significant hit as Rodriguez was the lone 125 listed on the Buckeye roster last season. Jose took over at 125 as Nathan Tomasello opted to move up to 133 for his junior season. Rodriguez struggled to consistently make 125 throughout the season, so his transferring may have something to do with him wanting to fit into a starting lineup at a higher weight. With the Buckeye firepower at 133 and 141, Rodriguez would be hard-pressed to find a spot in the starting lineup for the Buckeyes.
Prior to the announcement that Rodriguez would be leaving the program, the Buckeyes would have likely started him at 125, Nathan Tomasello at 133, and Ke-Shawn Hayes at 141 with Luke Pletcher taking a redshirt. Now that Rodriguez does not factor into the equation, the Buckeyes are facing the reality of an untested freshman stepping into the lineup or asking redshirt senior Nathan Tomasello to drop back down to 125. In this case, Pletcher would go 133 where he is better suited, and Hayes would man the 141 slot.
As it is early in the process, there is no word as to where Rodriguez will land, though Pitt, West Virginia, and Hofstra are some of the schools that are potential destinations.
