The Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling program landed one of the best recruits it's ever had earlier this spring when head coach Mark Manning scored a transfer commitment from AJ Ferrari. As it turns out, Manning credits Bill Belichick's girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, for making it possible for the Huskers to get the talented wrestler.
Manning spoke to Hurrdat Sports recently about how Ferrari ended up in Lincoln, and it turns out that the main reason the Huskers were able to get such a talented athlete to town is that, according to Manning, he had initially wanted to go to North Carolina, but he wasn't allowed to do so.
"Rob Koll... the North Carolina coach who I've known for 35 years," the Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling coach told the radio hosts. "And [is a] great friend of mine, called me up when they didn't let A.J. into the school at North Carolina. And A.J. was already there training some, and they didn't let him in admission-wise ... for various reasons, and Bill Belichick's girlfriend had something to do with that ..."
Nebraska wrestling lands AJ Ferrari after UNC admissions snag linked to Jordon Hudson
“So [North Carolina wrestling coach Rob Koll] called me up and said, ‘You’ve got a great team. You should get AJ Ferrari.”
— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) June 26, 2025
Mark Manning details the story of how the two-time All-American Ferrari ended up with Nebraska.
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What Hudson had to do with it, according to Manning, goes back to when Ferrari was charged in August 2022 with a felony count of sexual battery. The charges were dropped in October 2023. This spring, he was looking to transfer from Cal State Bakersfield to North Carolina, but Hudson somehow put the nix on that.
"[I'm] very serious," Manning said. "[She was] one of the elements ... and just a lot of drama, I think, for that chancellor."
Manning didn't elaborate on just what Hudson did to stop Ferrari from being accepted to North Carolina. It's safe to say that if asked, the administration would never admit to having anything to do with it, considering she's not an employee.
It's also impossible to know just where Bill Belichick's girlfriend comes into the situation, considering Manning's story is third-hand, as he had no direct knowledge of what happened that led Ferrari to Nebraska instead of North Carolina.
It's possible that UNC wrestling head coach Koll blamed Hudson incorrectly. It's certainly an odd tale. However, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have become the beneficiaries, with the caveat that one hopes Ferrari is actually innocent, which is why the charges were dropped.