‘Dream that never died’: Michigan wrestler bound for Paris Olympics

by: Jack Doles

Posted: Jul 9, 2024 / 12:03 PM CDT

Updated: Jul 9, 2024 / 12:04 PM CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WOOD) — Adam Coon has been down this road before.

Twice, before the Olympics in Tokyo and Rio, a heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler from Fowlerville in mid-Michigan came within a hair’s breadth of living out his Olympic dream. Twice, he fell just short of qualifying.

He even hung up his singlet at one point to pursue a professional football career. He was invited to a couple of NFL camps, but wrestling never lost its grip on him.

“Call it gut feeling. I just felt like the sport wasn’t done and I wasn’t done with the sport yet. So the body was still healthy enough to continue to compete, and that’s what I want to do,” he said.

When Coon sets his mind to something, he goes after it, no matter how difficult it might be. His first dream was to become an astronaut, so he studied aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan (where he also wrestled).

“To hopefully get in the industry, where I can bump shoulders with the astronauts, maybe become on myself. We’ll see. We’ll figure that out in the future,” he said.

It will have to wait. In April, he realized another dream. He succeeded at the Olympic Trials and qualified to compete in Paris.

“There was just that relief of finally overcoming. The guy that I beat in the finals, I had lost the last five straight against,” he said. “So there was that overcoming the obstacles that were thrown my way and there was that relief and excitement all at the same time of the relief that I finally am taking that step and on the journey that was toward my dream.”

A dreamer of the highest order, Coon embraces the pursuit and deals with the results, good or bad. No matter how many times he’s been thrown on the mat, he gets up to fight some more.

“It’s kind of that dream that never died as a little kid,” Coon said. “I just have those dreams and goals that I want to do. And I know that each step is a path along that journey to get to eventually where I want to be, and just taking those baby steps one step at a time.”

Photo: Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids WC) and Adam Coon (Cliff Keen WC/New York AC) wrestle in the Greco Roman 130kg Championship Finals of the Olympic Wrestling Team Trials on April, 20, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA.

Paris bound: Fowlerville wrestler Adam Coon qualifies for Olympics

Bill Khan

Livingston Daily

There were only 12 male wrestlers in the nation who won their divisions Saturday in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but two are from Fowlerville High School.

Adam Coon won the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman championship and Dalton Roberts won the 60-kilogram Greco-Roman title in State College, Pa.

Coon qualified for the Summer Olympics July 26-Aug. 11 in Paris, while Roberts will have to qualify his weight class for the Olympics by reaching the championship round in the World Olympic Qualifier May 9-12 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Coon won the Trials three years ago, but his weight class wasn’t qualified to represent the United States in Tokyo. He had to reach the championship round of the Olympic Qualifier, but lost in the quarterfinals.

He gave up wrestling to pursue an NFL career, signing with the Tennessee Titans. He was injured before training camp in 2021 and returned to wrestling in early 2023 to pursue his Olympic dream after two close calls.

“When I’m sitting behind a desk using my aerospace engineering degree, which would I prefer to have in my back pocket when I’m there?” Coon told the Livingston Daily in January 2023. “An Olympic gold medal or an NFL career?

“So, that’s where my head and heart ended up going. I wanted to pursue Olympic gold.”

Coon, a 2013 Fowlerville graduate who was a four-time state champion, was an Olympic alternate in 2016 while wrestling for the University of Michigan before winning the Trials in 2021.

In the championship round against Schultz, whom he had wrestled nine previous times, Coon lost 3-1 in the first match.

The second match was tied 1-1, with Coon winning on criteria.

In the deciding match, Coon took a 4-0 lead through the first of two periods. After Coon was called for passivity, giving Schultz a point, Coon got a takedown to go up 6-1 with a minute left in the match.

Roberts, a two-time world championships qualifier, won both of his finals matches against two-time Olympian Ildar Hafizov to win the Trials.

Roberts earned one point each for passivity and a step-out to win the first match 2-0.

Trailing 2-1 after one period in the second match, Roberts got a takedown to win 3-2 and capture the championship.

Roberts beat Hafizov to make the world championship team in 2021.

Roberts told the Livingston Daily following the 2021 Olympics that watching long-time foe Hafizov compete in Tokyo motivated him heading into the 2024 Olympic year.

“Watching him compete in Tokyo, I was back here in Colorado watching on my couch,” Roberts said at the time. “It kind of lit a little fire in my belly. I wanted to be there. He earned the right to. I put it in my head that given the next opportunity, I’m earning the next one.”

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan

 

 

World Medalists Coon and Kikiniou among 10 to Advance to Final X with World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Greco-Roman Titles

 

By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling | May 20, 2023, 8:53 p.m. (ET)

Adam Coon takes down Donny Longendyke in the 130 kg finals at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Photo by Robbert Wijtman.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior World medalists Adam Coon (130 kg) and Aliaksandr Kikiniou (77 kg) were among 10 Greco-Roman champions from today’s World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Discovery Canyon High School to punch their tickets for Final X.

Today’s winners will compete in Final X against the 2023 U.S. Open champion at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., June 10.

Coon, a 2018 World silver medalist, scored a 9-0 technical fall over Donny Longendyke in the finals. Coon advances to Final X to face Cohlton Schultz of the Sunkist Kids who defeated him in the U.S. Open finals in April. Coon had not wrestled until recently after pursuing professional football after the 2021 season.

Kikinou, a 43-year old who won a 2009 World bronze medalist for Belarus, recently received U.S. citizenship and was second at the U.S. Open. He won his finals today with a technical fall over Payton Jacobson, 10-0. He earned a Final X rematch against Kamal Bey who defeated him in the U.S. Open finals.

Kikinou was among three Olympians who were able to advance today to Final X, joined by two-time Olympian Ildar Hafizov at 60 kg and 2020 Olympian Alejandro Sancho at 67 kg.

Hafizov, a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan and a 2020 Olympian for Team USA, stopped Randon Miranda, 8-4 in the finals. He earned a rematch with Army teammate and 2023 U.S. Open champion Dalton Roberts in Final X.

Sancho did not have to compete in the finals, when Army teammate and 2016 Olympian Jesse Thielke did not wrestle in the finals match. Sancho will face U.S. Open champion Robert Perez III in Final X.

Two-time World Team member Patrick Smith won the title at 72 kg, with a 4-0 decision over Noah Wachsmuth. Smith returns to Final X to face rising young star Justus Scott, who defeated Smith at the U.S. Open.

Six World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champions qualified for Final X for the first time: Kikiniou plus Dalton Duffield (55 kg), Xavier Johnson (63 kg), Ryan Epps (82 kg), Zachary Braunagel (87 kg) and Christian DuLaney (97 kg).

Duffield, who was No. 3 on the Senior National Team last year, scored a 10-0 technical fall over 2022 U23 World Team member Camden Russell. He gets a Final X rematch with Brady Koontz, who beat him in the U.S. Open finals.

Johnson, a past National Team member, defeated two-time World Team member Sammy Jones in the finals, 7-4. Johnson, who started his career with the U.S. Marines and now wrestles for Army WCAP, draws 2023 U.S. Open champion Hayden Tuma in Final X.

Epps scored a tight 2-1 win over two-time Olympian Ben Provisor in the finals. He will battle 2022 World Team member Spencer Woods in Final X.

Braunagel, a student-athlete at the University of Illinois, used a 6-0 victory over Richard Carlson. Braunagel advances to Final X to face two-time World Team member Alan Vera in Newark.

Dulaney, who was a National Team member last year at 86 kg, has moved up in weight to make his first Final X. He defeated North Carolina student-athlete Cade Lautt in an 8-0 technical fall. His Final X opponent is two-time World Team member Joe Rau.

The World Team Trials Challenge Tournament will continue on Sunday with four women’s freestyle weight classes (55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg) and three men’s freestyle weight classes (61 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg). Session times are 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. live on FloWrestling.

WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 20, 2023

Greco-Roman results

55 kg
1st - Dalton Duffield, Army WCAP, tech fall Camden Russell, MWC Wrestling Academy/New York AC, 10-0
Duffield advances to Final X to face Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC)

3rd - Billy Sullivan, Army WCAP tech fall Jacob Cochran, Army WCAP, 12-1

60 kg
1st - Ildar Hafizov, Army WCAP dec. Randon Miranda, Rise RTC, 8-4
Hafizov advances to Final X to face Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP)

3rd - Dylan Koontz, Dubuque RTC/Titan Mercury WC tech. fall Jonathan Gurule, NMU-National Training Center, 8-0

63 kg finals
1st - Xavier Johnson, Army WCAP dec. Sammy Jones, Sunkist Kids WC, 7-4
Johnson advances to Final X to face Hayden Tuma (Suples WC)

3rd - Dylan Gregerson, Brunson UVRTC tech fall Corbin Nirschl, MWC Wrestling Academy/New York AC, 9-0

67 kg finals
1st - Alejandro Sancho, Army WCAP forfeit Jesse Thielke, Army WCAP
Sancho advances to Final X to face Robert Perez III (Sunkist Kids WC)
3rd - David Stepanian, New York AC tech fall Joel Adams, The Best Wrestler, 9-0

72 kg finals
1st - Patrick Smith, Minnesota Storm dec. Noah Wachsmuth, New York AC, 4-0
Smith advances to Final X to face Justus Scott (Army WCAP)

3rd - Michael Hooker, Army WCAP dec. Jack Ervien, Viking WC, 4-2

77 kg finals
1st - Aliaksandr Kikiniou, California tech fall Payton Jacobson, Sunkist Kids WC, 10-0
Kikiniou advances to Final X to face Kamal Bey (Army WCAP)

3rd - RaVaughn Perkins, New York AC pin Jesse Porter, New York AC, 1:11

82 kg finals
1st - Ryan Epps, Army WCAP, dec. Ben Provisor, New York AC, 2-1
Epps advances to Final X to face Spencer Woods

3rd - Barrett Stanghill, Minnesota Storm dec. Tommy Brackett, New York AC, 6-4

87 kg finals
1st - Zachary Braunagel, Illinois RTC/Illini WC dec. Richard Carlson, Minnesota Storm, 6-0
Braunagel advances to Final X to face Alan Vera (New York AC)

3rd - John Stefanowicz, Navy WC dec. Timothy Young, Army WCAP, 4-0

97 kg finals
1st - Christian DuLaney, Minnesota Storm, tech fall Cade Lautt, Tar Heel WC, 8-0
Dulaney advances to Final X to face Josef Rau (Titan Mercury WC)

3rd - Nicholas Boykin, Sunkist Kids WC pin Brandon Marshall, Big Game WC, 0:43
advances to Final X to face Josef Rau

130 kg finals
1st - Adam Coon, Cliff Keen WC/New York AC tech fall Donny Longendyke, Minnesota Storm, 9-0
Coon advances to Final X to face Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids)

3rd - Brandon Metz, North Dakota dec. Darryl Aiello, Dubuque RTC, 4-0

 

Adam Coon Among Five Olympians to Reach U.S. Open Senior Greco-Roman Finals

By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling | April 26, 2023, 9 p.m. (ET)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – It was a strong semifinals round for past Olympians at the 2023 U.S. Senior Greco-Roman Open, who went five-for-five on the raised mat in the South Point Arena.

Making the biggest noise was 43-year-old Aliaksandr Kikiniou of Poway, a past Olympian and World medalist for Belarus, who reached the finals in his first U.S. Open as a U.S. citizen. He scored an impressive 8-0 technical fall over No. 2 seed Payton Jacobson of Sunkist at 77 kg. Kikiniou hit a four-point throw, a two-point arm throw and a gut wrench for the first period win. His opponent in the finals is two-time U.S. Senior World Team member and past U20 World champion Kamal Bey of Army WCAP.

The four other past Olympians who made the semifinals are No. 1 Ildar Hafizov of Army WCAP at 60 kg, No. 3 Jesse Thielke of Army WCAP at 67 kg. No. 1 Ben Provisor of New York Athletic Club at 87 kg and No. 3 John Stefanowicz of the Navy Wrestling Club at 87 kg. All of these Olympians have competed for the USA, although Hafizov was also an Olympian for Uzbekistan before emigrating to the USA. Provisor has been on two U.S. Olympic teams.

Stefanowicz, a 2020 Olympian, returned to action after not competing last season. He will face No. 1 seed and two-time U.S. World Team member Alan Vera of the New York AC in the finals.

At 67 kg, No. 4 seed Robert Perez III of the Sunkist Kids stopped the run of U17 World champion Joel Adams of The Best Wrestler, with a 4-3 win in the semifinals. Unseeded Adams upset 2020 Olympian and top seed Alejandro Sancho of Army WCAP in the quarterfinals. Perez will face Thielke in Thursday’s finals.

At 72 kg, two-time World Team member and top seed Pat Smith of the Minnesota Storm fell behind unseeded Jack Ervien Jr of Viking Wrestling Club, IA, 6-0, but rallied to tie it up at 7-7 and won the match on a gut wrench, 9-7. He will face No. 6 seed and Nevada native Justice Scott of Army WCAP, who beat his Army teammate and returning U.S. Open champion Britton Holmes, 4-1.

2018 World medalist Adam Coon of New York Athletic Club/Cliff Keen WC made his return to the mat successful, earning a spot in the 130 kg finals against No. 1 seed and two-time Senior World Team member Cohlton Schultz of the Sunkist Kids. Coon has not competed since the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he defeated Schultz. Coon has been pursuing pro football, and defeated No. 2 seed (and college football player) Tanner Farmer of the New York AC in the finals.

In four weight classes, the top two seeds advanced into the finals. At 59 kg, No. 1 Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque WC) will battle No. 2 Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP). At 60 kg, No. 1 Hafizov draws Army teammate and No. 2 Dalton Roberts. At 82 kg, No. 1 Provisor will wrestle No. 2 and 2022 World Team member Spencer Woods of Army WCAP. At 97 kg, No. 1 seed and past World Team member Josef Rau of TMWC/Wildcat WC) will battle No. 2 Nicholas Boykin of the Sunkist Kids.

The U.S. Open champion qualifies for Final X in Newark, New Jersey, May 10. The top seven placewinners in each weight qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge in Colorado Springs, Colorado, May 20-21.

The Senior Greco-Roman medal matches are set for 4:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, live on FloWrestling.

U.S. SENIOR GRECO-ROMAN OPEN
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 26

Finals pairings
55 kg: No. 1 Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque WC) vs. No. 2 Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP)
60 kg - No. 1 Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) vs. No. 2 Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP)
63 kg ¬ - No. 1 Sammy Jones (Sunkist Kids Wrestling) vs. No. 3 Hayden Tuma (Suples WC)
67 kg -. No. 3 Jesse Thielke (Army WCAP) vs. No. 4 Robert Perez III (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg - No. 1 Patrick Smith (New York AC) vs. No. 6 Justus Scott (Army WCAP)
77 kg - No. 1 Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) vs. No. 6 Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway)
82 kg - No. 1 Ben Provisor (New York AC) vs. No. 2 Spencer Woods (Army WCAP)
87 kg - No. 1 Alan Vera (New York AC) vs. No. 3 John Stefanowicz (Navy WC)
97 kg - No. 1 Josef Rau (TMWC/Wildcat WC) vs. No. 2 Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids)
130 kg - No. 1 Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids) vs. No. 3 Adam Coon (New York AC)

Senior Greco-Roman semifinal results

55 kg:
No. 1 Brady Koontz (Dubuque Wrestling Club/TMWC) tech. fall No. 5 Jacob Cochran (Army WCAP), 9-0, 3:45
No. 2 Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP) tech. fall No. 6 Billy Sullivan (Army WCAP), 10-0, 3:51

60 kg
No. 1 Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) dec. No. 4 Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (West Coast Greco RTC), 7-1
No. 2 Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP) tech fall No. 6 Dylan Koontz (TMWC/ Dubuque WC/), 9-0, 1:52

63 kg ¬
No. 1 Sammy Jones (Sunkist Kids Wrestling) inj. dft No. 4 Xavier Johnson (Army WCAP), 0:00
No. 3 Hayden Tuma (Suples WC) dec. No. 2 Leslie Fuenffinger (Army WCAP), 1-1

67 kg
No. 4 Robert Perez III (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Joel Adams (The Best Wrestler), 4-3
No. 3 Jesse Thielke (Army WCAP) tech fall No. 2 Alston Nutter (Sunkist Kids), 11-2, 3:34

72 kg
No. 1 Patrick Smith (New York AC) dec. Jack Ervien Jr. (Viking WC, IA), 9-7
No. 6 Justus Scott (Army WCAP) dec. No. 2 Britton Holmes (Army WCAP), 4-1

77 kg
No. 1 Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) tech fall No. 5 Burke Paddock (New York AC), 9-0, 3:27
No. 6 Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway) tech. fall No. 2 Payton Jacobson (Sunkist Kids), 8-0, 1:57

82 kg
No. 1 Ben Provisor (New York AC) dec. No. 5 Andrew Berreyesa (New York AC), 4-3
No. 2 Spencer Woods (Army WCAP) dec. No. 6 Kendrick Sanders (New York AC), 7-0

87 kg
No. 1 Alan Vera (New York AC) tech fall No. 5 Zachary Braunagel (Illinois RTC/Illini WC), 9-0, 1:42
No. 3 John Stefanowicz (Navy WC) dec. No. 2 Timothy Young (Army WCAP), 6-2

97 kg
No. 1 Josef Rau (TMWC/Wildcat WC) tech fall No. 4 George Sikes (New York AC), 8-0, 4:14
No. 2 Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids) dec. No. 3 Christian DuLaney (New York AC), 7-5

130 kg
No. 1 Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids) pin No. 5 Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm), 2:18
No. 3 Adam Coon (New York AC) dec. No. 2 Tanner Farmer (New York AC), 5-1

Wrestler Turned Lineman 'Tougher Than Crap'

 

Adam Coon has a lot to learn but also has shown numerous attributes that Tennessee Titans coaches find appealing.

 

DAVID BOCLAIR

16 HOURS AGO (June 21, 2021)

 

NASHVILLE – Everyone involved agrees that Adam Coon has a lot to learn.

However, he also has a few things going for him that can’t necessarily be taught.

“He’s athletic. He’s tougher than crap,” Tennessee Titans offensive line coach Keith Carter said. “He works his butt off. He’s smart. All those things. He’s got all those really outstanding characteristics.

“Well, let’s go see how far we can take him from a technique standpoint and understanding standpoint, really.”

While his chances to make the 53-man roster at the start of the regular season are admittedly slim, Coon will be one of the most intriguing players on the Titans’ 90-man roster throughout training camp and the preseason.

An All-American wrestler at Michigan from 2013-18, he was a three-time NCAA All-American, a two-time NCAA finalist and won 116 of his 131 career matches. He signed with Tennessee as an offensive lineman earlier this month after he failed to make the U.S. team for the Olympics in Tokyo. Never mind that the last time he played organized football was 2012, his senior year in high school.

“He’s starting from scratch, man,” Carter said. “How you read a playbook. How you get in a stance. All that staff. But I’m excited. He’s the right guy for the job in the sense that he’s going to work his butt off (and) he’s going to keep coming back for more.”

Head coach Mike Vrabel has seen first-hand that what Coon is attempting is possible, which is why he saw fit to use a roster spot on a 26-year-old rookie who checked in at 6-foot-5, 294 pounds after he signed.

During his eight seasons as a linebacker with the New England Patriots, Vrabel was teammates with guard Stephen Neal, who was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion wrestler at Cal Bakersfield where he went 156-10. Neal did not play football in college but had a 10-year career with the Patriots during which he appeared in 86 games and started 81. Of course, it took more than a year before he got on the field in a regular season game and two full seasons before he became a starter.

“Wrestlers, especially at that elite level have unbelievable balance, core strength, things that I think would translate well into being an offensive lineman,” Vrabel said. “But having not played the game, there’s a lot of development that has to go on pretty quickly for him to compete. But he’s [Coon’s] got a great attitude. He shows up. He competes. He goes hard. He just might not know what to do all the time.

“I think we just have to continue to coach him, develop him and see what we can get out of him and how he develops.”

At the conclusion of his college career, Coon’s sole focus was on his Olympic bid. Initially, the goal was to be in Tokyo in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Games for a year.

In 2018 and 2019, he was a member of the U.S. Greco Roman team at the World Championships, and he won a silver medal in 2018. This April, he earned a spot on the national team once again, but the U.S. was not guaranteed a competitor in his weight class. At a last-chance qualifier tournament in May, he lost to a Ukrainian in the quarterfinals, which left him out of the Olympics.

One month later, he officially was an NFL hopeful.

“The fact that he’s out here shows that he wants to be here,” veteran guard Rodger Saffold said. “I see him working on drills off to the side, just constantly trying to learn. He seems to have a good attitude. Very critical of himself, which are good qualities to have as an offensive lineman.”

Right now, no one is willing to say for sure whether or not Coon actually is an offensive lineman or if he is a guy who is just kidding himself.

What is clear is that Titans coaches take his attempt to make it in the NFL quite seriously.

“You kind of sit back and ask yourself, ‘OK, who are the players (and) what ingredient do they have outside of technique that have a chance to make it?’” Carter said. “Adam checks all those boxes. … It will kind of be fun to see how far he can take it.”

Can Titans OL Adam Coon be the next Stephen Neal?

 

Published: Jun 12, 2021 at 09:03 AM

Grant Gordon | NFL.com Digital Content Editor

 

Julio Jones has been the talk of the Tennessee Titans as of late.

However, the reigning AFC South champions have brought in another addition recently with a decorated past in Adam Coon.

Tennessee recently signed the former University of Michigan All-American and Team U.S.A. champion wrestler with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel seeing a project ahead that could pay off in the same fashion that one of Vrabel's former teammates did.

"Just wanted to try to take a look at Adam," Vrabel explained of the signing of Coon when the coach spoke with the media on Thursday. "I followed his wrestling career for a while. Something we looked at and, again, I was a part of as a player taking a former wrestler and they developed into an offensive lineman with Stephen Neal."

Vrabel played with the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and Neal played for them from 2002 to 2010. Just like Coon, Neal played high school football but never in college, concentrating and flourishing in wrestling.

"Wrestlers, especially at that elite level, have unbelievable balance, core strength, things that I think would translate well to an offensive lineman," Vrabel said.

 Coon, having claimed Greco-Roman and freestyle championships and medals throughout a decorated college and Team U.S.A. tenure, notably was a two-time NCAA finalist (2015, 2018), a 2018 Senior world silver medalist, two-time Senior World Team member and a 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up.

Neal, meanwhile, was a four-time All-American at Cal State Bakersfield and a two-time NCAA champion who, as a senior, memorably defeated Brock Lesnar in 1999 for the heavyweight national championship. Lesnar would come back to win the crown in 2000 before going on to become a superstar in the WWE and UFC, holding titles in the predetermined and legitimate fighting arenas and perhaps more importantly becoming a top draw in both and a very underrated businessman.

Perhaps if the world of mixed martial arts wasn't in its dark ages when Neal moved on from Bakersfield he would've found his way to the UFC and fighting notoriety thanks to his wrestling pedigree. Instead, he found his way to Foxborough and was a staple for the better part of a decade at right guard for the burgeoning dynasty.

That's perhaps the ceiling Vrabel's hoping Coon, his 26-year-old prospect/project, will reach.

However, another mention of Lesnar is warranted. Following his first run in the WWE, Lesnar, having no college football experience either, gave the NFL a shot. The Vikings didn't like him enough to give him a regular-season roster spot, but he was offered a shot to play in NFL Europe as a Vikings representative. He declined.

It was a project that didn't come to fruition, but Lesnar's sheer athleticism and wrestling base made it happen.

One would surmise it's much the same with Coon.

While plenty of NFL players have wrestling on their high school resumes, there are a few such as Lorenzo Neal and the late Carlton Haselrig who starred on the college mat, as well.

Coon could be the next. His athleticism and ability to compete at a high level are positives. However, he is aiming to play a sport he hasn't played in roughly eight years, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound-plus Coon projecting to be an interior offensive lineman.

"Having not played the game, there's a lot development that has to go on pretty quickly for him to compete," Vrabel said. "But he's got a great attitude. He shows up, he competes, he goes hard and he just might not know what to do all the time. I think we just have to continue to coach him and develop him and see what we can get out of him and how he develops."

The odds are long and the road ahead is an arduous one, but it just might be that Adam Coon develops into the next Stephen Neal.

Titans sign former college wrestler Adam Coon

 

Posted by Josh Alper on June 4, 2021, 4:39 PM EDT

Getty Image

 

When Titans head coach Mike Vrabel played for the Patriots, one of his teammates was guard Stephen Neal and Neal’s path to the NFL may have influenced a move that the Titans made on Friday.

The Titans announced the signing of Adam Coon to their 90-man roster. Like Neal, Coon was a wrestler rather than a football player in college and, like Neal, he will be playing on the offensive line.

Coon was a three-time All-American at the University of Michigan and failed to qualify for the Olympics at a meet last month. He played football in high school before fully dedicating himself to wrestling.

The Titans waived tackle Anthony McKinney with an injury designation in a corresponding move.

Tennessee Titans sign All-American wrestler Adam Coon to play on offensive line

 

5:01 PM ET

Turron DavenportESPN

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have signed three-time All-American wrestler Adam Coon to play on the offensive line.

 

Coon compiled a 116-15 record in college while wrestling at Michigan, but never played football for the Wolverines. A four-time high school state champion in wrestling, Coon was named the Detroit Athletic Club High School Athlete of the Year as a senior in high school.

 

Coon has no college football playing experience but was an all-state linebacker in 2012 at Fowlerville High School in Michigan and was an honorable mention offensive lineman in 2010 and 2011.

 

Tennessee also placed cornerback Kevin Johnson on the reserve-retired list. Johnson signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Titans on March. The team also waived (injured) offensive tackle Anthony McKinney.

Sancho, Hancock, & Coon Collect Golds At ’19 Bill Farrell Memorial

By 5PM Staff

Posted on November 15, 2019

NEW YORK CITY — To cap the first tournament of the 2019-20 season for US athletes, four of its best pulled through with gold — although at 60 kilograms, Ryan Mango‘s (Army/WCAP) victory was earned in the most unique fashion possible.

The final round of the 2019 Bill Farrell Memorial began at 6:00pm ET and aired live in the US on FLOWrestling.

Mango was matched up against 2019 World/Army teammate Max Nowry. Given the pair is already qualified for the 2020 US Olympic Trials — and face off on a daily basis in the WCAP wrestling room — they decided to save the combat for another time. Which is why when both took the mat and squared off, they played Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Mango came out on top.

From then on out, it was business as usual.

Alex Sancho (67 kg, Army/WCAP) dug immediately against Hayanobu Shimzo (JPN), at one instance clamping over the top and causing Shimzo to jump back in pain. After they reset, the hand-fiighting resumed with Sancho working off a lead right leg scanning for positions. The first passivity/par terre chance was all his. From top, Sancho locked for a side lift and hoisted it up. Shimzo twisted and contorted to avoid danger; so, Sancho adjusted his lock and attempted to drive forward instead. Sancho was credited with two but Japan challenged. Following the review, the score was adjusted to 4-0 in Sancho’s favor.

Shimzo upped his intensity level just a bit to start the second. Sancho wrangled a two-on-one and looked to straighten before the hold disappeared. Eventually, the passivity fairy rang, this time for Japan. Shimzo locked for a gut before finding his feet for a lift, but Sancho defended. Shimzo went on the attack with time becoming a factor, and nearly collected a step-out point towards the end only to have the tables turned on him at the last possible second. In the end, it was a 5-1 decision for Sancho, who clinched his third Bill Farrell Memorial tournament win along with a spot in the 2020 Olympic Trials.

’19 Open runner-up Spenser Woods (NYAC/OTS) wanted to start hot and use his athleticism, though it was Hassan Mohamed (EGY) who made the bigger first impact. Soon after the whistle, Mohamed managed to launch Woods for five. Another exchange after the proceeding reset saw Mohamed scan for another attempt and earn a step-out. But gradually, Woods began finding his rhythm. He was more commanding and confident in the tie-ups, and looked to be the fresher athlete. A step-out put the NMU rep on the board just before the end of the first to cut his deficit to 6-1.

More jockeying for position by both cracked open the second, and Mohamed came close to another step-out point. This time, Woods was ready, and he deftly circled away from the boundary to re-engage. But the pace grinded to a halt. The more Woods started coming on, the more Mohamed was in survival mode. No further points were scored, thus providing Mohamed with a 6-1 victory.

G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist) had himself a willing participant in the form of Ahmed Hassan (EGY) — and he put that fact to good use. Hassan went for a throw, Hancock countered and turned it into his own four at the line, and took with him an additional point for the step-out. A similar sequence unfolded. Hassan went in on Hancock again, only to be taken down. Following one more restart, it was all over. Hancock brought Hassan into his clutches coming out of an exchange, put him to his back, and the signal for the fall arrived in quick succession. The win gives Hancock his second Bill Farrell Memorial gold (2016).

At heavyweight, ’18 World silver Adam Coon (130 kg, NYAC/Cliff Keen) didn’t need much time to dispose of Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP). Coon’s gutwrench, which he deployed with what seemed like an extra touch of viciousness on this evening, is a weapon that is continuing to develop and wound up becoming responsible for six of the nine points he needed to seal this one up. Just over two minutes into the first, and that was it — Coon with his first Bill Farrell Memorial victory since ’15.

Alan Vera (87 kg, NYAC) and 2009 World bronze Aleksandr Kikiniov (BLR) combined for a highly-anticipated bout that was big on positional tactics, but not points. Vera received the first passive chance of the contest and came up empty. Kikinov got a point back in the second, but was then knocked for a caution-and-two for “negative wrestling”, though it was white-paddled. Shortly thereafter, Kikiniov was banged for passive. This time, Vera took advantage of par terre and rotated one gutwrench to all-of-the-sudden surge ahead 4-1, which capped the scoring and the bout.

Stay tuned tomorrow for additional notes and insights from the Bill Farrell Memorial. 

2019 BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL

November 15 — New York, New York

FINALS RESULTS

60 kg: Ryan Mango (Army/WCAP) def. Max Nowry (Army/WCAP) via RPS
67 kg: Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) def. Hayanobu Shimzu (JPN) 5-1
77 kg: Hassan Mohamed (EGY) def. Spencer Woods (NYAC/OTS) 6-1
87 kg: Alan Vera (NYAC) def. Aleksandr Kikinov (BLR) 4-1
97 kg: G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist) def. Ahmed Hassan (EGY) via fall
130 kg: Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen) def. Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP) 9-0, TF

THIRD PLACE RESULTS

60 kg: Sammy Jones (NYAC/OTS) def. Matt Schmitt (WV) 8-0, TF
67 kg: Nolan Baker (USOPTC) def. Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota Storm) via fall
77 kg: Corey Hope (NYAC) def. Jesse Porter (NYAC/OTS) 7-0
87 kg: Chandler Rogers (UA) def. Satoki Mukai (JPN) via fall
97 kg: Taichi Oka (JPN) def. Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) 2-1
130 kg: Toby Erickson (Army/WCAP) def. Bryson McGowan (UA) 7-4