Kansas State’s defense has spent two weeks making a statement, and Wendell Gregory has been right at the center of it.
The Wildcats rolled past Washington State 34-7 on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and Gregory delivered the kind of outing that backs up the buzz around him. The defensive end finished with five tackles and two sacks, flashing the kind of impact Kansas State was hoping for when it brought him in after he started his career with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
That performance fit neatly into what Kansas State has done defensively so far this season. The Wildcats still haven’t allowed a touchdown through two games. In the opener against Nicholls, they gave up only a field goal, and against Washington State, the Cougars’ lone points came on an interception return for a touchdown.
After the win, Gregory made it clear he thinks this group is only getting started.
"It'll be great, 100 percent," Gregory said of what the defense could become. "It's going to be great.
You're gonna keep seeing it build up week by week. Just keep tuning in for sure.”
Gregory’s arrival has already paid off for Kansas State. He came to the Wildcats after a strong first season at Oklahoma State, where he was good enough to earn Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors. Even that success didn’t keep him out of the transfer portal, and now he’s helping Kansas State deal with the loss of All-Big 12 linebacker Austin Romaine, who transferred to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The 2-0 start has also nudged Kansas State into the rankings conversation, even if only slightly for now. The Wildcats remained unranked in both polls, but they did pick up one vote in the AP Poll’s “Others Receiving Votes” section. The American Football Coaches Association Poll was a little kinder, giving them 24 votes.
A bigger climb likely waits ahead. Kansas State may need a win over Tulane this weekend to have any real chance at the Top 25, and the most likely path to that jump is a 4-0 start. That would mean beating Tulane and then Cincinnati in the Big 12 opener.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Got A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Opportunity
Kansas States home game against Washington State did more than just add another date to the schedule. It also gave the Wildcats a chance to put their program in front of a promising group of young recruits, including Titus Huard, a four-star quarterback in the 2028 class and the son of former NFL quarterback Brock Huard. Huard already has offers from several universities, and his presence in Manhattan was a reminder that the Wildcats are trying to get in early on one of the more notable quarterbacks in the cycle.
Huard was not the only prospect on hand, either. Grant Nehls and Brady Lawhon were among the other recruits taking in the game, giving Kansas State a little extra opportunity to build relationships while the atmosphere was fresh and the spotlight was on. For a program looking to stay active on the recruiting trail, these kinds of visits matter, especially when a quarterback with Huards profile is part of the crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Former K-State Transfers Are Already Creating One Uncomfortable Debate
Week 2 turned into a familiar kind of reminder for Kansas State fans, with several former Wildcats making their mark in new places. Austin Romaine was everywhere for Texas Tech, piling up nine tackles while playing every snap, and DeVon Rice found the end zone twice for Hawaii, giving both players the kind of immediate impact that transfer-watchers tend to notice right away. Elsewhere, Jayce Brown at LSU and Dylan Edwards at Kansas did not leave much of a statistical footprint, which only sharpened the contrast among the ex-Wildcats scattered around the country.
For Kansas State, the uncomfortable part is less about any single box score and more about what these early returns say about where the talent went and how quickly it is showing up. When one former Wildcat is handling a full workload and another is scoring multiple times almost immediately, it naturally invites a fresh round of comparisons back home, especially as the season settles in and those exits become part of the bigger roster conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Rodney Fields Is Forcing A Kansas State Backfield Decision
Rodney Fields has quickly changed the feel of Kansas States backfield. The Oklahoma State transfer has gone over 100 rushing yards in consecutive games, including a 105-yard day with a touchdown against Washington State, and that kind of production has pushed him into a much larger role. Collin Klein has already made the call to install Fields as the starting running back, a move that sends senior Joe Jackson into a different spot in the rotation while Fields now leads the Wildcats in carries.
For a Kansas State offense still sorting out its identity, the timing matters. Fields emergence gives the Wildcats a dependable runner at a position that often shapes how far a team can go in Big 12 play, and it also adds another layer of intrigue when top quarterback recruit Titus Huard shows up around the program. The backfield now looks a lot more settled on the surface, but the bigger question is how much room there is for anyone else to carve out touches if Fields keeps running like this. [Read more 🡒]