Kansas State got a small but meaningful nod in the Big 12’s 2026 preseason honors, with two Wildcats landing on the conference’s All-Big 12 team.
Senior offensive lineman John Pastore and sophomore edge rusher Wendell Gregory made the list, giving the Wildcats a pair of preseason selections as they look ahead to next season. Former Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine, who transferred to Texas Tech, also appeared on the team.
The recognition fits with where Kansas State has been strongest in recent seasons. Up front, the defensive line has been the backbone of that side of the ball for years, going back to Brendan Mott and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. That carried into 2025 with Tobi Osunsanmi and Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder helping drive pressure from the interior and edge.
Coach Collin Klein pointed to that group’s depth in spring ball.
“We probably have more depth on the edge; been really happy with some of those guys," Klein said in his spring ball interview. "You’ve got four or five guys who have flashed at times and done some really nice things, so I think that will give us some flexibility. Every one of them has improved drastically, and part of that is how hard we’ve practiced, put those shoulder pads on, and focused on winning at the line of scrimmage.”
Kansas State’s absence in some of the skill-position spots is less surprising. At quarterback, Avery Johnson still has plenty to prove, even though he’s widely expected to take a big step in Year 4. And at running back, the Wildcats are expected to lean on a three-man rotation led by Joe Jackson, with Rodney Fields and Jay Harris also in the mix.
Jackson’s production came mostly late in the season, and with the carries likely spread around, Kansas State didn’t have a clear enough front-runner to place a back on the preseason rushers list.
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