The Hodge Trophy has become the most prestigious individual award in collegiate wrestling.
The great wrestlers who have won the award, led by the incomparable Cael Sanderson, have all been deserving of the honor.
This year's 2008-09 race looked to be a tight battle between Northwestern's Jake Herbert and Iowa's Brent Metcalf, the 2008 Hodge Trophy winner.
I don't have a vote, but here is how I would vote if I had a ballot with my top three choices on it:
3. Darrion Caldwell, North Carolina State - He pulled off one of the biggest wins in the 79-year history of the NCAA Championships when he knocked off Metcalf in the 149-pound finals.
Caldwell wrestled an unbelievable match, and took Metcalf totally out of his game. He was a deserving choice as Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
One of the factors that works against Caldwell, in my eyes, is his loss to Metcalf by technical fall in the all-star dual at the beginning of the year. The match didn't count on their records, but it did happen this season.
Caldwell is a great talent and it will be interesting to see how he does if he pursues international wrestling.
2. Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska - He barely finished with a record above .500 as a freshman. He placed third in the country as a sophomore and won arguably the toughest weight class in the country at the 2009 NCAAs.
Burroughs beat returning NCAA champion Jordan Leen of Cornell early in the season, won by major decision over past NCAA champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro in the national semifinals and then downed returning NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois in the 157 finals.
Burroughs is exceptionally talented on his feet, offensively and defensively. The scary part is he keeps getting better. He is freakishly athletic and he still has another year of college left.
Burroughs has one of the best double-leg shots I've ever seen. You know it's coming, but you can't stop it. His double is lethal.
You could make a strong case for Burroughs winning the Hodge this year. He will definitely be in the mix to win it next season, along with Caldwell and Metcalf.
1. Jake Herbert, Northwestern - Herbert is my pick for the Hodge Trophy after he simply dominated the competition this season in winning his second NCAA title.
Herbert came back after taking an Olympic redshirt in 2008 and downed returning NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the 184-pound finals.
Herbert caps a phenomenal career where he placed third, second, first and first on college wrestling's biggest stage.
He wrestles an entertaining style where he combines great technique, strength and quickness along with an aggressive, attacking mentality. He's been a joy to watch and to cover.
Herbert, Burroughs and Caldwell have all been fun to watch this season. You also can't forget about the great seasons pieced together by NCAA champions Troy Nickerson of Cornell and Steve Luke of Michigan.
Burroughs and Caldwell made strong cases to win the Hodge, but Herbert is my clear choice for the award.
Jake Herbert is my pick for the 2009 Hodge Trophy.
The great wrestlers who have won the award, led by the incomparable Cael Sanderson, have all been deserving of the honor.
This year's 2008-09 race looked to be a tight battle between Northwestern's Jake Herbert and Iowa's Brent Metcalf, the 2008 Hodge Trophy winner.
I don't have a vote, but here is how I would vote if I had a ballot with my top three choices on it:
3. Darrion Caldwell, North Carolina State - He pulled off one of the biggest wins in the 79-year history of the NCAA Championships when he knocked off Metcalf in the 149-pound finals.
Caldwell wrestled an unbelievable match, and took Metcalf totally out of his game. He was a deserving choice as Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
One of the factors that works against Caldwell, in my eyes, is his loss to Metcalf by technical fall in the all-star dual at the beginning of the year. The match didn't count on their records, but it did happen this season.
Caldwell is a great talent and it will be interesting to see how he does if he pursues international wrestling.
2. Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska - He barely finished with a record above .500 as a freshman. He placed third in the country as a sophomore and won arguably the toughest weight class in the country at the 2009 NCAAs.
Burroughs beat returning NCAA champion Jordan Leen of Cornell early in the season, won by major decision over past NCAA champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro in the national semifinals and then downed returning NCAA runner-up Mike Poeta of Illinois in the 157 finals.
Burroughs is exceptionally talented on his feet, offensively and defensively. The scary part is he keeps getting better. He is freakishly athletic and he still has another year of college left.
Burroughs has one of the best double-leg shots I've ever seen. You know it's coming, but you can't stop it. His double is lethal.
You could make a strong case for Burroughs winning the Hodge this year. He will definitely be in the mix to win it next season, along with Caldwell and Metcalf.
1. Jake Herbert, Northwestern - Herbert is my pick for the Hodge Trophy after he simply dominated the competition this season in winning his second NCAA title.
Herbert came back after taking an Olympic redshirt in 2008 and downed returning NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the 184-pound finals.
Herbert caps a phenomenal career where he placed third, second, first and first on college wrestling's biggest stage.
He wrestles an entertaining style where he combines great technique, strength and quickness along with an aggressive, attacking mentality. He's been a joy to watch and to cover.
Herbert, Burroughs and Caldwell have all been fun to watch this season. You also can't forget about the great seasons pieced together by NCAA champions Troy Nickerson of Cornell and Steve Luke of Michigan.
Burroughs and Caldwell made strong cases to win the Hodge, but Herbert is my clear choice for the award.
Jake Herbert is my pick for the 2009 Hodge Trophy.
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