DANNY NINI IS AN ILLINI!

If you hadn't heard about DANNY NINI before, you can bet that somebody close to the program knew all about him. Austin O'Connor recently graduated from the same University of North Carolina program from which Nini has transferred. Talk about a scouting report!




It might even be that Danny sought out the ILLINI to train with the best middleweight coaching staff in the business with Mike Poeta, IMAR and AOC. It could also be the case that he wants a future in the MMA world and can find that training in ILLINOIS. Anybody with the courage to do a kids-watching-Saturday-morning-cartoons pose on an alligator is gonna be a good get. 




In fact, he wrestled Haines a couple years ago while moving up a weight from 149 to 157 in the UNC/PSU dual and lost a very respectable 1-4 decision. AOC saw something in Danny Nini that made him feel that he could wrestle in the tough middleweights in the B1G. 




Back in high school at Lake Highland Prep in Florida, Danny was ranked at 138. He's coming to ILLINOIS having used his redshirt as a Sophomore with a career record of 13-12, but it should be noted that 9 of those matches, including 5 as a true Freshman were dual starts. As a true Freshman, he wrestled at 149, so he was featured in 5 duals for UNC alongside Austin O'Connor at 157. 

Last season, he was up at 157.

In watching some video on this young stud, it seems he likes the underhook. What better place than ILLINOIS? He also likes the 2-on-1, the inside trip, and he has a pretty quick duck. Nini is a strong defender against leg attacks. 

Congratulations to Danny, his family and friends and wrestling partners., and congratulations to the staff for filling a need! GO ILLINI!!!

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