Wichita product Wesley Fair ready to make an impact for Kansas State on defense
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wesley Fair emerges as a defensive candidate after two seasons on special teams.
- Coaches cite speed, physicality and awareness gains as keys to Fair’s growth.
- Fair aims for elevated role in opener against Iowa State after 16 game appearances.
No one should be surprised if Wesley Fair gets a promotion when the Kansas State football team unveils its first depth chart of the season.
After spending the past two years as a dependable contributor on special teams, perhaps the redshirt-sophomore safety from Wichita is ready to be labeled as a starter for the Wildcats on defense. Or maybe he will be mentioned as a key reserve player in the secondary.
Either way, his coaches have made one thing clear — they are expecting big things from Fair now that he is heading into his third year in EMAW land.
“Anything we’ve asked that kid to do throughout his career, he’s done,” K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. “And he’s been fantastic.”
Klanderman shared a few of his demands with Fair when he spoke with reporters earlier this week.
For starters, the Wildcats wanted him to improve his speed. Now, he is running 22 mph in practice.
Next, the Wildcats wanted to know if he could be more physical. Now, he is pulverizing teammates in training camp.
Later, the Wildcats asked him to turn his head and use his eyes in coverage. Now, he is coming up with interceptions at practice.
He has made many improvements since he was a three-star recruit coming out of Wichita Collegiate School.
“He played a good but smaller level of (high school) football,” Klanderman said. “So he didn’t get exposed to a bunch of different things, even though he was in a great program. He came here just learning stuff, learning the complexity of it all ... and now he’s nailing it.”
K-State fans haven’t gotten many opportunities to watch Fair make big plays in games. Even though he has appeared in 16 games over the past two seasons, he has mostly played on special teams. He only has seven tackles to his name.
But he has also been playing behind older and more experienced defenders, some of which are now in the NFL. This could be his time to shine.
“I think this year is a big year for me to not only do my job but make plays,” Fair said. “You have got to bring young guys along with you. That is what I have been trying to do, but I am also out there doing my best to make splash plays.”
If Fair ends up in the starting lineup, playing alongside VJ Payne and Austin Romaine, he is confident that he won’t be overwhelmed by anything that he encounters in the first game of the season against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland.
Sure, some things will be different. But he’s played in meaningful games before. And he appears ready for more.
“The great thing about special teams is it prepares you for the big moments,” Fair said. “So now that I am playing more defense, I think that’s going to prepare me for those moments. I’m going to be calm in situations like that.”
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Wichita product Wesley Fair ready to make an impact for Kansas State on defense."