clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Husker Wrestling Officially Adds Big-Time Recruit

Nebraska adds Elise Brown Ton after he flipped commitment from Oklahoma State to the Huskers

By Dylan Guenther
Nebraska head coach Mark Manning poses with Isaiah White on Senior Day. On Thursday, Manning announced the addition of Elise Brown Ton, who will be instrumental in replacing White at 165 pounds this season.
Dylan Guenther / Corn Nation

Nebraska continues its incredible run of roster building with a big-time late addition to its 2020 recruiting class that was already ranked No. 2 in the country by WIN Magazine.

It just so happens that the Huskers flipped their latest signee away from the team that held the top spot in the 2020 recruiting class rankings, Oklahoma State. Elise Brown Ton flipped his commitment from the Cowboys to the Huskers earlier this summer, but Nebraska Wrestling head coach Mark Manning officially announced the addition of Brown Ton to the roster on Thursday.

In Brown Ton, Nebraska gains a very talented wrestler from Allen, Texas that also fills a major area of need. After losing All-American Isaiah White to graduation, Nebraska didn’t initially address the 165-pound weight class in the 2020 class. I saw that as the only real miss for Nebraska over the offseason, but leave it up to Manning and associate head coach Bryan Snyder to fill the hole with a stud.

Brown Ton is a two-time Texas state champion, as he won UIL titles in 2019 (152 pounds) and 2020 (160 pounds). He finished off his senior season with a 46-2 record after defeating Darwin Hull in the state final with some late theatrics. Here’s a video of Brown Ton winning his second state title.

As a junior, Brown Ton went 30-8 on the way to his first state title after going 31-9 as a sophomore and finishing runner-up at 145 pounds.

Brown Ton also has an impressive resume outside of the Texas high school ranks, as he won the 170-pound title at the 2019 Reno Tournament of Champions, pinning three of his six opponents. He also finished runner-up at the 2018 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals while finishing fourth at the 2019 Cadet World Team Trials at 71 kg. In addition to all that, Brown Ton won three straight Texas-USA Wrestling State Championship titles in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, winning the Junior Boys 160-pound division after winning Cadet titles in 2017 and 2018.

Here is a highlight video of Brown Ton, and obviously he possesses impressive athleticism.

Brown Ton is listed on Nebraska’s roster at 165 pounds, so not only did Nebraska add another talented wrestler, but he will slot in at Nebraska’s shallowest weight class. This move also gives Nebraska some much-needed lineup flexibility. After predicting that sophomore Peyton Robb (2019-20 starter at 157 pounds) would have to move up to 165 pounds, this leaves open the possibility that Robb can stay put at 157. Lineup options abound, so it’ll be interesting to see what Nebraska chooses to put on the mat to begin the 2020-21 season.

Nebraska has been on a roll the last few years with recruiting. The 2020 class may be the best Nebraska has had in a very long time, as it was ranked No. 2 even before the addition of Brown Ton. This after signing the No. 5 class in 2018 and the No. 6 class in 2019. Add to that the fact that Nebraska also added a pair of transfers that could make an impact and Nebraska’s outlook for this season and beyond is on a meteoric rise.

2020 Incoming Recruits

(Click here for a more in-depth breakdown of the class)

  • Jeremiah Reno (125 pounds) - No. 6 recruit at 120 pounds. Undefeated 179-0 record in high school.
  • Dominick Serrano (133 pounds) - No. 2 recruit at 132 pounds. Undefeated 168-0 record in high school.
  • Brock Hardy (149 pounds) - No. 2 recruit at 145 pounds in 2018 class. Four-time Utah state champion.
  • Nic Stoltenberg (149 pounds) - Three-time Nebraska state champion for Omaha Skutt. 140-23 career record.
  • Elise Brown Ton (165 pounds) - Two-time Texas state champion.
  • Brandyn Van Tassell (184 pounds) - Two-time Utah state champion. 2018 high school graduate.
  • Nathan Haas (184 pounds) - No. 7 recruit at 182 pounds. Two-time California state champion.
  • Silas Allred (197 pounds) - No. 5 recruit at 195 pounds. 144-2 high school record with 139 pins. Two-time Indiana state champion.
  • Zak Taylor (285 pounds) - Ohio native. Nebraska state qualifier in 2020 for St. Edward.

Incoming Transfers

  • Senior Liam Cronin (125 pounds, Indiana) - 42-31 career record at Indiana. 5th-place at 2020 Big Ten Championships.
  • Junior Landon Brown (285 pounds, Western Wyoming Community College) - Two-time NJCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier.

More From Corn Nation