Wendell Gregory
Kansas State#142 overallScouting Report
Wendell Gregory is one of the more intriguing edge prospects in a 2027 class that evaluators expect to be unusually deep at the position, and he arrives there after an unusual path. A four-star recruit out of Marietta, Georgia who was ranked the No. 17 edge nationally in the 2024 cycle, he began his career at South Carolina before transferring to Oklahoma State and immediately becoming the brightest spot on a defense that ranked among the worst in the country. Vikings Wire's summer report, built off tape against Arizona, Cincinnati and Oregon, highlights near-elite get-off as the foundation of his game, with blazing acceleration off the snap that pressures a tackle's set before the play has really begun. He plays with good knee bend that still has room to grow, and he sinks his hips into contact to win the leverage battle rather than running himself upfield. The motor is the most consistent thing about him; evaluators note he is routinely at full speed chasing a play on the far side of the field, and his pursuit and tackling are not in question. The pass-rush plan is the part that lags behind the traits. He wins early with speed but does not yet have a reliable second move after the first engagement, and the Vikings Wire report specifically suggests a spin would fit his fluidity and turn him into a real disruptor. There is also an unexplored piece to his projection: he has the athleticism and processing to drop and roam in zone, but Oklahoma State rarely asked him to do it. He stayed through the end of a 1-11 regular season while teammates opted out to protect their health, then entered the transfer portal in January and landed at Kansas State as the Wildcats' highest-ranked transfer, where coach Collin Klein has praised his twitch, bend and hands. The 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 pick is the player most likely to reset the K-State line's identity, and his tape suggests a bigger role and better surrounding defense would raise his production further.
NFL Comparison
Of his 20 closest coming out: 0 stars, 3 starters, 14 backups, 3 didn't stick.
Speed-rush profile built on get-off and leverage, with the counter-move development curve still ahead of him
Draft Movement
Up 203 spots since Jul 20
The Tape
Strengths
- Near-elite first step with blazing acceleration that threatens a tackle's set immediately
- Speed off the edge is the primary rush win and shows up on tape against Arizona, Cincinnati and Oregon
- Good knee bend with the hip flexibility to sink into a blocker and win leverage
- Relentless motor, frequently caught at full speed chasing plays on the opposite side of the field
- Pursuit ability and tackling reliability are not in question per scouting reports
- Produced immediately after transferring, with three sacks in the season opener against UT Martin
- Led all FBS freshmen in tackles for loss with 12 while playing on one of the country's worst defenses
- Fluid enough athletically that evaluators project an easy addition of counter moves
Weaknesses
- Pass-rush move set needs real growth beyond the initial speed win
- No dependable counter after first engagement, with evaluators specifically calling for a spin move
- Knee bend is good but still has room to improve for a full conversion of speed to power
- Largely unproven in zone coverage, as Oklahoma State rarely asked him to drop
- Production came against a backdrop of a bad defense, making the full projection harder to isolate
- Tackle total of 27 is modest, suggesting snap or role limitations
- Changing programs twice in two years leaves scheme fit and development path uncertain
College Stats
2025 (Oklahoma State): 27 tackles, 4 sacks, 12 TFL (led FBS freshmen), 1 PD, 1 FF
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $784K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Kansas State's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Portal: transferred from Oklahoma State to Kansas State for 2026.
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Measurables
Awards & Honors
Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2025); All-Big 12 Third Team (2025); Four-star recruit, No. 17 EDGE nationally in 2024; Preseason All-Big 12 (2026)