Tristan Wirfs’ high school athletic background should lend to NFL success

Tristan Wirfs has been isolated as one of the few main draft targets for the NY Giants with the #4 overall pick. His high school athletic background should play a major role in his potential NFL success.

As we know, most NY Giants fans are completely divided on who the team should select with the #4 overall draft pick should they stay in that spot. One name that has been brought up consistently throughout the entire draft process has been former Iowa offensive tackle, Tristan Wirfs, and for good reason.

Wirfs got better every season at the offensive lineman factory that is Iowa, but oddly enough, it’s something he accomplished in his high school days that may lend itself in the most meaningful way to him having a successful NFL career.

There is a very interesting read detailing the tough decision Wirfs had to make heading into his senior year in terms of continuing his successful high school wrestling career while juggling that he had signed a D1 offer with an elite school such as Iowa that is in his home state.

The main crux of the issue was that Wirfs walked around at over 300 pounds, yet the HS wrestling heavyweight weight limit was 285 pounds. So, he had to worry about if cutting weight so often only to have to put it back on would be a hindrance to his college career.

After consulting with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and several Iowa offensive lineman that also had wrestling backgrounds, he made the decision that he had to see his wrestling career through — that was a wise decision.

Wirfs took home the State Title in his senior year while racking up a gaudy 25-3 record, gaining valuable experience that translates very well for an offensive lineman.

While studying his tape, it’s easy to see just how much that wrestling helps him be the mauler that he is. He exudes elite balance and core control, two things that are commonly picked up after years of elite wrestling.

Here’s a clip demonstrating how those traits translate on a football field, as the bowling-ball like offensive tackle is very hard to beat at the point of attack or barrel over.

Despite being initially bull-rushed by his opponent, he was able to get a low center of gravity and stave off the edge-rusher in wrestling-like fashion.

While being a HS State Champion wrestler certainly doesn’t guarantee NFL success, when you combined it with his awesome college tape and results it stands out as a major weapon for him.

Maybe NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman will look at this in the same way and pull the trigger on the bully offensive lineman that Wirfs is, much of which was developed during his wrestling days.