Wendell Gregory didn’t come to Kansas State to blend in.
The new Wildcats edge rusher said the role he expects to play in Manhattan is simple, and he made the point plain when asked what fans should expect the first time he lines up at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
“Dominance.”
That’s the word Gregory chose, and it fits the kind of buzz he brings with him. The Oklahoma State transfer arrives after being named the Big 12’s Defensive Freshman of the Year, and he’s already being talked about as an all-league player heading into 2026. He said schools around the country came calling, but Kansas State won him over.
“There was just something about K-State,” Gregory said on Friday, Aug. 14.
“I came down and gave it a look; I loved what Coach (Collin) Klein was talking about, loved what the defensive coordinator was talking about with the scheme. I just wanted to be a piece in that defense that would take us somewhere different.
I'm trying to turn K-State around for sure.”
For Kansas State, Gregory is the kind of addition that changes the feel of a defensive front. The Wildcats needed help after losing Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor to Indiana and Ryan Davis to Baylor. They did bring back Jordan Allen and Travis Bates, and they added Kennesaw State transfer Elijah Hill and Coastal Carolina transfer Jayden Bryant, but Gregory stands out as the headliner.
The numbers back up the excitement. Gregory posted 32 quarterback pressures last season, including 21 hurries and seven quarterback hits.
He also finished with four sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus’ advanced stats put him in the same neighborhood as NFL first-round pick Malachi Lawrence of UCF and second-round pick Zion Young of Missouri, which is exactly the kind of company that gets attention.
Gregory says the production is only the start.
“I promise you that I will get to where I need to get to get to the next level,” Gregory said. “You can name all the accolades, All-Big 12, All-American, this and that, but my main goal is to win.”
That winning piece is a big part of why he landed in Manhattan. Gregory pointed to what he’s seen across the last year, including Oklahoma State’s rough start that ended with Mike Gundy being let go early in the season and South Carolina’s strong finish in 2024, when he was redshirting and the Gamecocks won six games to close the regular season and stay in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot.
He believes Kansas State can move forward after a 6-6 season a year ago, the final one under Chris Klieman. And he said the culture Collin Klein is building was a major draw.
Gregory said he’s felt that bond already, and he likes the way the group has come together.
“I could've had a big head coming in here after being the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, but I really just came in here with my head down and showed the guys that I want to come in here and work,” Gregory said. “I'm just like everybody else. I just want to work, go to the Big 12 championship, and win a national championship.”
In Other News...
Kansas State Is About To Put A New Name On Its Jerseys
Kansas State is getting ready to take a step that has become familiar across college sports but still feels new enough to draw attention in Manhattan: putting a sponsor patch on football jerseys. Athletics director Gene Taylor said the school is close to finalizing a football-specific deal, and the details should be announced soon. It is the latest sign of how programs are finding new ways to use their uniforms and branding in an era when outside corporate support has become increasingly visible.
The Wildcats have already offered a clue about where this is headed, with practice jerseys featuring a green Irish clover tied to a company that has long had connections to the university. For a fan base that pays close attention to every uniform tweak, the move adds another layer to a season in which the look of the team may change before the on-field product does. The remaining question is not whether the patch is coming, but how quickly Kansas State will make the arrangement official and what name will soon be stitched onto the jersey. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Is Bringing Back A K-State Standard Fans Know Well
Collin Kleins return to Manhattan has a familiar feel for Kansas State fans who remember the Bill Snyder era for its discipline, structure and no-nonsense expectations. Klein is leaning into many of the same standards, with demanding practices and a clear emphasis on work ethic, while still bringing his own imprint to the job. The programs identity has always been tied to habits as much as hype, and Klein appears intent on keeping that foundation intact.
He also differs from Snyder in ways that matter around the edges, including a more media-friendly presence and a visible emphasis on family priorities. For the Wildcats, the bigger picture is how that blend translates on the field, especially with Avery Johnson drawing outside attention as a possible Heisman Trophy name. The buzz is understandable, but history suggests that kind of leap remains a long shot, which only adds more intrigue to a season that already has plenty riding on it. [Read more 🡒]
Jace Adler Embodies What Kansas State Fans Love About This Program
Jace Adler arrived in Manhattan with the kind of rsum that usually comes with a scholarship and a spotlight, but he took a different path. The Andover Central product was a standout in high school, piling up state-level honors and helping lead his team to a championship, then turned down scholarship chances elsewhere to walk on at Kansas State. In May, the Bill Snyder Sunflower Chapter of the National Football Foundation recognized that choice with a scholarship of its own, a nod to both his accomplishments and the kind of commitment this program has long celebrated.
Adlers first season of action with the Wildcats offered a small but meaningful glimpse of what that decision can look like in practice. The walk-on safety saw the field in three games in 2025 while keeping his redshirt intact, a modest early step for a player who arrived with a decorated pedigree and a clear willingness to earn everything he gets. For Kansas State, players like Adler fit the culture as much as the depth chart, and his path is the sort of story fans tend to appreciate even before it becomes a bigger one. [Read more 🡒]