As Kansas State aims to recover from a disastrous 2025 season, the program has added a few key pieces to revamp a defensive unit that needed an overhaul.
One that stood out is freshman edge rusher Wendell Gregory, who transferred from the Wildcats after a season with Oklahoma State. ESPN ranked him No. 51 on its list of the top 100 most impactful transfer players. Gregory had 27 total tackles, four sacks, and 12 tackles for loss last season.
The article wrote:
"What a get for new coach Collin Klein and the Wildcats. Gregory had been linked to Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri, and several other teams during his recruitment and ultimately chose to stay in the Big 12 and join a defense that was searching for a difference-maker off the edge to help replace departed transfer Tobi Osunsanmi."
When Kansas State lost a chunk of its defensive line, it knew it needed to find a star edge rusher and defensive game-wrecker. Getting the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year should definitely inspire confidence.
"This will be his third move in as many years and could be reason for caution, but the tools to be a disruptive edge defender are certainly there," the article wrote. "He can be a bit of a bull in a china shop at times and can refine his technique against the run, but he can quickly blow up plays."
There weren't many names capable of replacing the likes of Osunsanmi and Austin Romaine, but Gregory may be one. He was one of Oklahoma State's few bright spots, leading the team in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits. Gregory will play perfectly into the Wildcats' game plan of setting the edge upfront. Hopefully, he can refine his game to help Kansas State's lackluster run defense as well.
His addition is necessary for a Kansas State unit that took significant losses over the past month. ESPN also highlighted defensive end Osunsanmi (Indiana) and wide receiver Jayce Brown (LSU) as top players in the portal as well.
Osunsanmi had six tackles for loss and four sacks in 2025, leading the team in those categories until he was ruled out mid-way through the season. It was a crushing loss to an already-struggling defense, halting a career season that could've been even more dominant if he stayed healthy.
Meanwhile, Brown departs after headlining as Kansas State's No. 1 weapon for the past two seasons. One of the Big 12's most dynamic playmakers, he was quarterback Avery Johnson's primary target with his downfield presence offsetting Johnson's typical short-yard passing.