Kansas State will enter the 2026 college football season with two of its top players already receiving conference-wide recognition, as defensive end Wendell Gregory and offensive lineman John Pastore were selected to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team announced Monday by the conference office.
The honor marks the first preseason All-Big 12 selection for both Gregory and Pastore, reflecting the significant impact each player is expected to have during the upcoming campaign. It also continues a recent trend for the Wildcats, who have now placed two players on the preseason team for the second consecutive year.
Gregory arrives at Kansas State carrying considerable momentum after transferring from Oklahoma State in January. During his redshirt freshman season in 2025, the talented defensive end quickly emerged as one of the conference’s brightest young defenders.
His breakout campaign earned him the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award along with Third-Team All-Big 12 honors after an impressive season in which he recorded 27 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one pass breakup, and a forced fumble across 12 appearances, including four starts.
Gregory’s ability to disrupt opposing offenses made him one of the nation’s most productive freshmen. His 12 tackles for loss ranked second among all freshman defenders nationally and fifth overall in the Big 12 Conference, while his four sacks led every freshman defender in the conference. His combination of speed, athleticism, and pass-rushing ability is expected to make him a cornerstone of Kansas State’s defensive front this season.
On the offensive side, veteran left tackle John Pastore earned preseason recognition following an outstanding 2025 campaign that established him as one of the conference’s premier offensive linemen.
Pastore started all 12 games at left tackle last season, playing 715 offensive snaps while earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. His consistent protection and run-blocking helped anchor one of the Wildcats’ strongest offensive lines in recent memory.
Behind Pastore’s leadership, Kansas State ranked 10th nationally in sacks allowed, surrendering just 1.08 sacks per game, while also producing one of the school’s most efficient rushing attacks. The Wildcats averaged 5.09 yards per carry, the fifth-highest mark in program history.
Kansas State’s explosive ground game also rewrote several school records during the 2025 season. The Wildcats produced three rushing plays of at least 70 yards—the most in school history and tied for the second-most in the nation. Pastore also played a key role in Kansas State’s record-setting rushing performance against Utah, where the Wildcats piled up a school-record 472 rushing yards, breaking a program record that had stood for more than five decades.
With Gregory expected to anchor the defensive line and Pastore leading the offensive front, Kansas State enters the 2026 season with two proven difference-makers who have already earned the respect of conference media. Their preseason honors highlight the Wildcats’ strength in the trenches and reinforce expectations that both players will be central figures as Kansas State looks to compete for another Big 12 championship.
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