J.R. Brown doesn't complicate things.
The 184-pounder was straightforward when talking about the competition among the Penn State wrestling team within his weight class.
Brown is one of the contenders for the 184 spot -- which lacks the depth of some other weight classes on the team -- but the sophomore isn't over-thinking what needs to be done to earn the position.
"I'm just wrestling," Brown said.
He's not only just wrestling, but he's now wrestling at a more natural weight.
Last season Brown bumped up to the 197-pound spot after two starters were injured, but this season he's back at 184, where he believes he can be more competitive wrestling against opponents similar in size to him.
Coach Cael Sanderson said Brown is currently the leading candidate for the spot. Sanderson said Brown will wrestle-off against freshman Ed Ruth this weekend, but the coach has no intention to drop Ruth's redshirt this season.
The wrestler closest to challenging Brown for the spot is David Crowell, who said he isn't eligible until the Illinois match Jan. 22 after transferring to the Nittany Lions from Pittsburgh in the spring.
Crowell said it's a slight disadvantage not being able to compete against some of the top teams the Lions face in early dual meets, but he'll have the opportunity to compete as an unattached wrestler in the fall while finishing up his redshirt year.
Despite having the chance to compete in open tournaments, Crowell said it's tough knowing he can't compete to represent the team in the fall.
"It's kind of hard because I put a lot of time in over the summer and this fall," Crowell said. "To not be able to compete in the matches kind of hurts, but the good thing is we don't have too many Big Ten matches until the spring when I'm eligible."
Though Sanderson said Brown is currently the only practical option at 184, he said the way the wrestlers perform in the fall may affect what happens once Crowell is eligible. Sanderson has yet to see any of the wrestlers perform in competition, and he said he'll get a better feel of the team once the season is underway.
In the meantime, Crowell is going about his business and not ruling out the possibility of getting a shot at 184.
"Brown is really tough, so we'll see how it goes," Crowell said. "If I do well [at open tournaments] I'm sure they'll put me in."
Until then, Brown is just wrestling.
