Trio of Sooner All-Stars will redshirt in 2011-12

Oklahoma University coach Mark Cody confirmed in an exclusive interview with WIN Magazine that three of his programs talented wrestlers — including transfers Andrew Howe and Travis Rutt — will redshirt for the Sooners this winter.

In addition to Howe and Rutt, who competed for three years at the University of Wisconsin (2009-11), will be joined on Oklahoma’s redshirt list by 125-pound Jarrod Patterson, who will have one more year of eligibility in 2013-14.

Patterson, a native of Cushing, Okla., has compiled an 87-28 career record and qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons, including 2009-10, when he represented OU as a true freshman and captured 30 wins and the Big 12 championship. One year later, Patterson finished 29-9 and finished seventh at the NCAAs. In 2012, Patterson was seeded No. 7 but just came up short of All-American honors when he lost in the Round of 12.

Howe, who will compete at 165 or 174 pounds for the Sooners in the 2013-14 season, took an Olympic redshirt last winter in his attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Games. Unfortunately for the native of Cedar Lake, Ind., he suffered a knee injury in the Championship Series with Jordan Burroughs at 163 pounds. Howe also suffered an injury in the 2011 NCAAs when he finished third. Prior to that, Howe collected three Big Ten titles and was named Big Ten freshman of the year in 2009 when he finished second nationally to Jarrod King of Edinboro. One year later, Howe defeated Penn State’s Dan Valimont for his first NCAA title and second of three All-American honors.

Rutt, a native of New Prague, Minn., compiled a 60-32 record in three years at Wisconsin, where he twice qualified for the NCAAs and claimed a seventh-place finish in 2011. He is expected to compete at 184 pounds for the Sooners in 2013-14.