Kansas State Safety Position Group Preview: 10 Questions Ahead of the Season
Ja'Son Prevard and Logan Bartley will receive an extra season of eligibility after playing as true freshmen last season, while Adrian Maddox, a transfer from Georgia, is expected to start at safety.
The Kansas State safety position group has undergone significant changes ahead of the 2026 season. With the departure of VJ Payne and Gunner Maldonado, who are both out of eligibility, and Daniel Cobbs, who defected to Baylor, the Wildcats will need to rely on new faces to fill the void.
Adrian Maddox, a 22-year-old safety who transferred from Georgia, is expected to start at safety. Maddox appeared in four games for the Bulldogs last season, including the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal against Ole Miss. He will bring a physical presence to the back end of the defense to help replace VJ Payne.
Wesley Fair, who started the first six games of 2025 before being moved down the depth chart, will be part of the rotation but will need to prove himself to grab the starting job. Fair will need to be markedly better to start in 2026.
Koy Beasley, a 24-year-old safety who transferred from Miami (Ohio), is a speed merchant who will be the fastest player on Kansas State this season. Beasley consistently ran under 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior in high school.
Beasley struggled to make an impact in the run game last season, but he is fine when he can hang back and play coverage. He is listed at 5'10", 187 pounds and isn't super physical at the point of attack.
Jet Dineen, a 22-year-old safety who is entering his fourth season at Kansas State, will also be part of the rotation. Dineen has started in multiple games for the Wildcats and has experience playing in the secondary.
Ja'Son Prevard, a 23-year-old safety who transferred from Virginia, will receive an extra season of eligibility after playing as a true freshman at Morgan State. Prevard will be a key player for the Wildcats this season.
Logan Bartley, a 25-year-old safety who is entering his second season at Kansas State, will also receive an extra season of eligibility after playing as a true freshman last season. Bartley will be a key player for the Wildcats this season.
The Kansas State safety position group will be one to watch this season, as several players will be competing for starting roles. The Wildcats will need to rely on their new faces to fill the void left by the departed players.
Source: Yahoo Sports
