Metcalf was a three-time member of the US World Team and two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Iowa.

Metcalf joined Cael Sanderson and David Taylor as the only sophomores to win the Dan Hodge Trophy as the best collegiate wrestler in the United States.

[2] His older brother, Chase Metcalf, was also a very successful wrestler, but lost his life in a car accident in his university years.

He completed his senior season as a 2005 Dave Schultz High School Excellence regional award winner.

He competed unattached in three open college tournaments, winning all three en route to compiling a 14–0 record at 149 pounds.

He had only one loss on the year, getting pinned in a spladle in the first period by NC State wrestler Darrion Caldwell during their dual meet.

He defeated future world champion and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska in the semifinals, 6–3.

[6] For his achievements, Metcalf was named the winner of the 2008 Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's best college wrestler.

Metcalf entered the 2009 NCAA Wrestling Championships with an unblemished 37–0 record and again garnered the number-one seed for the 149-pound weight class.

The NCAA Wrestling Committee reprimanded Metcalf, issuing a news release that it "strongly believes the championships should not be tarnished by such acts.

Palmer, a fellow four-time high-school state champion, had met and lost to Metcalf in 4 prior matches.

On December 21, Metcalf competed in Flowrestling's Premiere League (FPL) where he faced off against Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico) in a freestyle-folkstyle hybrid match.

[9] In January 2015 it was announced that Metcalf would face 18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico in an Agon Wrestling Championship match.

In April 2017, Brent Metcalf accepted a position as Volunteer Assistant Coach for Iowa State University's wrestling team.