Securing NIL Deal, Carter Starocci Teases Potential Future Path After Possibly Finishing Wrestling Career at Impossible Feat

It’s not always that a collegiate athlete stands on the brink of immortality. For Penn State’s Carter Starocci, life has been bitter-sweet recently, to say the least. From winning his fourth NCAA title to taking an unexpected defeat at the US Olympic Trials, Cael Sanderson’s star student has gone through a rollercoaster over the past weeks. Amid all these, he has also announced his return to Penn State for another year. However, it looks like the 23-year-old also has a plan for himself after he wraps up his collegiate career with a record that no one has ever achieved.

NCAA’s NIL (name, image, likeliness) regulations allow student-athletes to transcend beyond the collegiate scene and make a living of their own by achieving their fullest potential. While many national sensations like LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne have been taking advantage of the NIL for years, Starocci hadn’t traveled these territories. But things are set to change probably.

In his recent Instagram story, Carter shared a post made by the Brazilian MMA icon and three-time Muay Thai world champ Adaylton Freitas. Freitas’ post shows him posing with Starocci and the American Top Team is also tagged there as well. The American Top Team has been a featured faction of AEW previously. With Starocci having only one more year of his collegiate career and the next Olympic Games being four years away, it seems like branching out to newer pastures is not off the table for the NLWC wrestler. Furthermore, the wrestler himself added more fuel to the speculative fires. 

Starocci recently announced his latest venture with Happy Valley United, the NIL wing of Penn State. “I’m excited to work with @happyvalleyutd and take advantage of NIL opportunities! Thanks to Happy Valley United for supporting me off the mat.” wrote Carter in his Twitter post from yesterday. Considering how a former Penn State student also made ripples in the MMA circuit, it wouldn’t be too audacious to presume that the young Turk Starocci is also interested in expanding his horizons.

Bo Nickal, the MMA powerhouse from Penn State, has been a firm believer in Starocci’s capabilities and was also spotted alongside Cael Sanderson at last month’s Olympic team trials, giving crucial tips to the NLWC wrestlers. In 2021, the three-time NCAA champ partnered with the American Top Team to open a new MMA gym in Pleasant Gap. Now, with opportunities ripe for the taking, it remains to be seen if professional wrestling is where Starocci makes his next camp. But from the present scheme of things, it appears that even if Starocci chooses that, it might not be before lifting himself to an untouchable height.

Carter Starocci has an eye for a place among the greats

Carter Starocci already has an enviable record of four NCAA championships under his belt. Now, returning for his final year at Penn State, Carter can well become the first-ever wrestler to clinch a record fifth NCAA title. In a Twitter post from last week, the two-time Big Ten gold medalist said, “Build a legacy that won’t be touched EVER…I want to end my collegiate career on my terms.” However, his road to glory won’t be an easy ride by any means.

Only recently, the country’s wrestling fraternity was shocked to learn about Olympic gold medalist David Taylor’s decision to join Oklahoma State Cowboys as the new head coach after his defeat at the hands of Aaron Brooks at the team trials. With the Penn State alum set to lend his expertise to his new camp, Penn State’s prospects of defending its NCAA title are now faced with a serious challenge.

On top of that, the Iowa Hawkeyes are also frantically adding to their roster ahead of the new season. With so many developments in recent days, it remains to be seen how Starocci fairs in the situation and if his possible move to the MMA can be kicked off after he sets a new benchmark in NCAA wrestling.