All eyes now turn to the next season. After the Penn State Nittany Lions bagged their fourth consecutive NCAA D1 wrestling title, preparations to dethrone Cael Sanderson’s boys next season are in full swing. Among others, the 2021 NCAA champ AJ Ferrari could be one of the athletes to bring the fights to the NLWC next season. But which program could make use of his explosive talents?

Mr. Fast Twitch’s collegiate career was cut short unexpectedly when he was sidelined for almost two years after a car crash in 2022. In 2024, the 23-year-old took the wrestling community by storm as he announced his return under the banner of Cal State, Bakersfield. AJ finished the 2024-25 NCAA season with an impressive 21-1 record and finished the national championship in 3rd place (197lb). But speculations about the next chapter of Ferrari’s career are already rife, and fans can’t stop scratching their heads about it.

AJ Ferrari’s future gets another veiled update

The University of North Carolina’s associate wrestling head coach, Tony Ramos, took to X on April 4 to make some cryptic comments. “It’s always a great day to be a Tar Heel!” the social media update boasted with a sonorous boom and joked that the UNC stocks could be worth the price right now. However, Ramos refrained from providing any clarification on the matter. However, it didn’t take long before the fans sought to connect the dots, and made conclusions of their own involving AJ Ferrari.

However, it’s not like the fans are conjuring thoughts out of thin air. Only yesterday, AJ got his name on the transfer portal, and via a post on X, he even stated that he is “considering all opportunities“. While many speculated that Ferrari would go back to OSU, where he won his NCAA title in 2021, to work and get better under the watchful eye of Olympic champ David Taylor, his final decision is yet to be revealed.

“I am so thankful for Cal State Bakersfield. I am entering the portal today…I still have 2-3 years of eligibility left. I am starving for success on and off the wrestling mat,” the Texas native wrote in his social media update, further stirring up the fans’ thoughtful gaze. However, it remains to be seen what fate has in store for the 2025 PAC-12 gold medalist, but it looks like UNC fans have already started counting the chickens.

Mere speculation gets the fans going

“Hearing word that AJ Ferrari @mrfasttwitch was seen on campus last weekend,” commented one fan on X, further claiming that the decision could have a long-lasting impact on collegiate wrestling. Before Ferrari’s return to the NCAA circuit, he was constantly linked with several programs to make his comeback. The colleges included some of the top programs in the country, including Iowa. However, none of those ultimately panned out, but fans believe that AJ’s possible move to UNC could truly be noteworthy.

“Happy for him and hope coach Koll continues his growth as a man,” wrote a fan on the Subreddit r/wrestling, while another exclaimed their astonishment with the comment, “Stunner!” UNC hasn’t fared all too well at the NCAAs in recent years and only managed to snag one fifth-place finish at this year’s national championship (Lachlan McNeil, 149lb), who is also on his way to UNC. Naturally, some fans think AJ Ferari’s arrival could only bode well for the struggling program. “Good for us. We need some attention too,” stated one fan, reflecting the sentiment.

“Fantastic news, this brings some serious hype and eyeballs to the program,” said another who thinks the 2025 NCAA bronze medalist could bring a lot to the table for Coach Koll and the Tar Heels. Do you feel so, too? Tell us where you think AJ Ferrari will end up at below!