Fair Using a Year of Learning to His Benefit
Apr 17, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
There they were, Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair and a few others — "the Wichita boys" — wearing a lanyard around their neck and an official Kansas State recruit credential, standing together on the sideline to watch a Kansas State football game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It was Fair's first time inside the stadium, and the stadium was electric, and during the football game, Fair began to daydream.
"I thought, 'Man, if we show up here, we can really do something,'" Fair says. "Obviously, most of those guys ended up coming to K-State."
While Johnson enters his senior season at quarterback ranked in the top 5 all-time in K-State history in several statistical categories, Fair has a story to share as well — one about leadership and faith and doing everything he can do to put together a memorable senior season in Manhattan.
"The sky's the limit for this team," Fair says. "We're shooting for the stars, and we're going to put in the work to each our goals."
The goal for Fair, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior safety, is simple: Become a little bit better each day as a player and as a leader.
"I've become an older guy, so I'm trying to lead these guys well and make sure everybody is on the same page," Fair says after spring practice on Thursday. "We need to communicate, fly around fast, make plays on the ball, and I'm the quarterback of the defense. That's really what coaches tell us to do. I'm trying to pass that mentality down to everyone in that room."
The safety room is full of new and returning talent, including Koy Beasley (Miami of Ohio), Adrian Maddox (Georgia) and Ja'Son Prevard (Virginia).
"We have Beasley, Maddox, Prevard, and all those guys who came in, and they've learned what it means to wear the Powercat," Fair says. "The offense and defense have brought in a lot of good guys. Every day it's iron-sharpens-iron and everyone is getting better. One day I might lose a 1-on-1 rep, and then I'll beat that same dude. We have a lot of transfers willing to put in the work and it's going to pay off."
As for who's giving Fair the most problems?
"Nobody," he says, "is giving me problems."
But Fair has individual improvement on his mind. He's been thinking about it since the end of the 2025 season. Although Fair played in all 12 games last season, he started the first six games of his career — and then didn't start anymore. He finished with 36 tackles, one tackle for loss, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery over 409 defensive snaps.
"Last year was my first time playing real Big 12 football, and I grew in knowing that I belonged on the field," Fair says. "That was a big thing. Having that confidence was big. That's what I'm going to bring this year as well.
"Last year, sometimes I was in the right position, but didn't have enough body control to make those plays that I needed to. That's been a real emphasis for me in that next step — what's going to happen and what's the offense going to do."
These days, Fair is proving himself to a new coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson and defensive backs coach Jeremiah Johnson. Peterson, who arrived at K-State after a highly successful stint as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, has also long-been a defensive backfield guru.
"Just having new coaches is a fresh start," Fair says. "Not saying anything bad about the old coaching staff, but it's just such a benefit to play loose, free, and to play with something new. It's good and I enjoy it. Coach JP is a really smart dude. He has energy and mentally he's really good. I've been trying to learn everything I can from him."
Peterson is passionate about flustering opposing offenses behind a defense that features multiple looks. Fair grins while attempting to describe the installation of the defense, and finally says, "We're doing a lot of different things. It's always switching up."
Fair has learned plenty since the coaching staff arrived a few months ago.
"This whole winter-spring training has been about getting better in the weight room, stronger and faster, and with the new coaches, it's about just learning as much ball as you can, and it's been really good," Fair says. "We have some really smart dudes. Coach JP and Coach JJ, they really get me right and I've learned a lot."
The coaches have also pumped up the energy a few notches.
"I loved the old coaching staff, but this coaching staff has so much energy, and they bring it every day. I love that," Fair says. "The change is going to be great for the team and for our future. I'm excited."
As for how this K-State defense might look differently from a year ago?
"That's a good question," Fair says. "Since we're going to have so much energy, I think energy will be the big thing. A lot of guys are new, so during spring ball we're just getting chemistry together and everyone is really enjoying it. We have a lot of dudes."
K-State defensive coaches have talked about building a violent, fly-around old-school defense, harkening back to the days of the dominant K-State defenses in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Fair shares that sentiment.
"We definitely have some dudes who are going to hit somebody," Fair says. "It's just about executing at the right moments. We're going to be really good."
Through video studies, drills and on-field development, Fair continues to progress to another level in spring practice.
His quest? To be on the field — and to stay on the field in the fall.
"Last year was definitely a learning year for me," Fair says. "It was disappointing that I started the year off pretty good, then I hit a slump and didn't bounce back. I definitely have had that on my mind all offseason.
"I'm going to continue to work on it, so this year I can really have a breakout season."
There they were, Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair and a few others — "the Wichita boys" — wearing a lanyard around their neck and an official Kansas State recruit credential, standing together on the sideline to watch a Kansas State football game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It was Fair's first time inside the stadium, and the stadium was electric, and during the football game, Fair began to daydream.
"I thought, 'Man, if we show up here, we can really do something,'" Fair says. "Obviously, most of those guys ended up coming to K-State."
While Johnson enters his senior season at quarterback ranked in the top 5 all-time in K-State history in several statistical categories, Fair has a story to share as well — one about leadership and faith and doing everything he can do to put together a memorable senior season in Manhattan.
"The sky's the limit for this team," Fair says. "We're shooting for the stars, and we're going to put in the work to each our goals."
The goal for Fair, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior safety, is simple: Become a little bit better each day as a player and as a leader.
"I've become an older guy, so I'm trying to lead these guys well and make sure everybody is on the same page," Fair says after spring practice on Thursday. "We need to communicate, fly around fast, make plays on the ball, and I'm the quarterback of the defense. That's really what coaches tell us to do. I'm trying to pass that mentality down to everyone in that room."
The safety room is full of new and returning talent, including Koy Beasley (Miami of Ohio), Adrian Maddox (Georgia) and Ja'Son Prevard (Virginia).
"We have Beasley, Maddox, Prevard, and all those guys who came in, and they've learned what it means to wear the Powercat," Fair says. "The offense and defense have brought in a lot of good guys. Every day it's iron-sharpens-iron and everyone is getting better. One day I might lose a 1-on-1 rep, and then I'll beat that same dude. We have a lot of transfers willing to put in the work and it's going to pay off."
As for who's giving Fair the most problems?
"Nobody," he says, "is giving me problems."
But Fair has individual improvement on his mind. He's been thinking about it since the end of the 2025 season. Although Fair played in all 12 games last season, he started the first six games of his career — and then didn't start anymore. He finished with 36 tackles, one tackle for loss, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery over 409 defensive snaps.
"Last year was my first time playing real Big 12 football, and I grew in knowing that I belonged on the field," Fair says. "That was a big thing. Having that confidence was big. That's what I'm going to bring this year as well.
"Last year, sometimes I was in the right position, but didn't have enough body control to make those plays that I needed to. That's been a real emphasis for me in that next step — what's going to happen and what's the offense going to do."
These days, Fair is proving himself to a new coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson and defensive backs coach Jeremiah Johnson. Peterson, who arrived at K-State after a highly successful stint as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, has also long-been a defensive backfield guru.
"Just having new coaches is a fresh start," Fair says. "Not saying anything bad about the old coaching staff, but it's just such a benefit to play loose, free, and to play with something new. It's good and I enjoy it. Coach JP is a really smart dude. He has energy and mentally he's really good. I've been trying to learn everything I can from him."
Peterson is passionate about flustering opposing offenses behind a defense that features multiple looks. Fair grins while attempting to describe the installation of the defense, and finally says, "We're doing a lot of different things. It's always switching up."
Fair has learned plenty since the coaching staff arrived a few months ago.
"This whole winter-spring training has been about getting better in the weight room, stronger and faster, and with the new coaches, it's about just learning as much ball as you can, and it's been really good," Fair says. "We have some really smart dudes. Coach JP and Coach JJ, they really get me right and I've learned a lot."
The coaches have also pumped up the energy a few notches.
"I loved the old coaching staff, but this coaching staff has so much energy, and they bring it every day. I love that," Fair says. "The change is going to be great for the team and for our future. I'm excited."
As for how this K-State defense might look differently from a year ago?
"That's a good question," Fair says. "Since we're going to have so much energy, I think energy will be the big thing. A lot of guys are new, so during spring ball we're just getting chemistry together and everyone is really enjoying it. We have a lot of dudes."
K-State defensive coaches have talked about building a violent, fly-around old-school defense, harkening back to the days of the dominant K-State defenses in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Fair shares that sentiment.
"We definitely have some dudes who are going to hit somebody," Fair says. "It's just about executing at the right moments. We're going to be really good."
Through video studies, drills and on-field development, Fair continues to progress to another level in spring practice.
His quest? To be on the field — and to stay on the field in the fall.
"Last year was definitely a learning year for me," Fair says. "It was disappointing that I started the year off pretty good, then I hit a slump and didn't bounce back. I definitely have had that on my mind all offseason.
"I'm going to continue to work on it, so this year I can really have a breakout season."
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