A Key Part to an Attacking Front Unit
Apr 28, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State football wrapped up its spring practice season on Saturday, and senior defensive end Travis Bates eagerly awaits the end of the spring semester. That's when Bates, a veteran anchor to the Wildcats' defensive front, will return to his parents' home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and indulge in his favorite summer activity: Anchoring down his camouflaged kayak in the lake behind their house.
"I'll just fish there for a month, large-mouth bass, and I have my little camo-colored kayak that's a lot of fun," he says. "That's 278 pounds on a little kayak. I have a lot of fun, but I almost capsize the thing. If I tip one way, we're going under."
When summer workouts and then fall camp begins, the 6-foot-3, 278-pound Bates plans to do more than help the K-State defense stay afloat. He expects the defense — and its many talented defensive ends — to be humming like his parents' ski boat.
"Up front, we're attacking, and that's what I really like about it," Bates says. "We're way more an attacking front than a year ago, and that's more fun, because it gives the defensive line an opportunity to make plays on every single play, and not just on certain plays.
"Being able to attack is a lot fun, and I'm going to enjoy that."
Just as the bass like to strike at Bates' Senko bait on a calm Texas morning, Bates expects to do some striking of his own at the expense of opposing quarterbacks in the fall.
A year ago, Bates saw time on 390 defensive snaps over the 12-game season and recorded 20 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup. During his first season at K-State in 2024, he saw time on 223 defensive snaps and finished with 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
After posting two sacks in 2024 and in 2005, he's seeking a higher sack total this fall.
"Yeah, 100%, I want to double that," he says. "I want to triple that."
He plans to do so with his muscled 278-pound frame after weighing 269 pounds a year ago.
"Putting on more muscle mass and cutting fat has helped me to be more explosive," he says. "I put on weight the right way. We've had numerous conversations about my weight and where I need to be. I feel great. I'm more explosive."
And after seeing time on 613 defensive snaps over his two seasons at K-State, Bates, who studiously watches film of his play and his opponents, feels at the top of his game, which could lead to peak on-field production.
"I see the game very slow now," he says. "Everything has slowed down. When I first got here, I remember I felt like I got punched in the mouth every single play because I had no idea what was coming. I've gotten better at backfield recognition, and the game has slowed down to the point where it makes it a lot easier to make plays rather than just filling a gap."
As for the No. 1 thing on Bates' list to improve over fall camp?
"Pass rush," he says. "I'm solid on the run support, but my pass rush has to get better. I need to be better with my hands, just more consistent with it. There would be some plays when I was really good and some plays when my hands weren't as good. I want to be more consistent."
This is the third group of defensive ends that Bates has been a part of during his time at K-State. Every year is different. This group appears to stand out under veteran defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt.
"The culture is really good," Bates says. "Coach Wyatt brings an energy. He's an older guy and this younger staff has brought out the best in him. It's a good thing. It's been fun with Coach Wyatt and the new defensive ends just because it's something new.
"It's just the different skillsets we have. We have a lot of guys who can rush from the outside, and we have a lot of guys who can get on the speed package and on the faster packages and rush from the middle. The versatility of our defensive end group is really exciting."
This group features several new faces, featuring sophomores Wendell Gregory (Oklahoma State), Jayden Bryant (Coastal Carolina), and Elijah Hill (Kennesaw State). The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Gregory earned 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors after posting 27 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble while playing in every game with four starts. His 12.0 tackles for loss ranked second in the FBS among freshmen and his three sacks in the season opener against UT Martin tied Colorado's Aldon Smith (2009) for most sacks in a single game by a freshman in Big 12 history.
"He's good, he's really good," Bates says. "Obviously, he has some work to do, but he's got all the tools to be a great pass rusher and a great run stopper."
Bates remembers the young days of his own career. Heck, there was a time when Bates wondered if he might even reach this level. Lightly regarded coming out of Tomball (Texas) High School, Bates went to Austin Peay State and worked hard to prove to himself that he could play college football. Bates did exactly that and earned Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele.
Turned out it was a steppingstone as he was able to transfer to K-State.
"When I was younger, I couldn't even dream of doing something like this," he says "I just wanted to play varsity football. What I've learned is no matter what happens, there's nothing that hard work can't do — hard work and consistency. Nothing is given to you. You have to earn it.
"That's why I love being at K-State, because that's the mantra of this whole university — you have to take what you want, and it's not going to just be given to you. I've learned hard work can take you a long way."
And now with the end of the spring practice season, it's time for a well-deserved break.
"I wasn't ready to end spring ball, but we finished it out the right way," Bates says. "We've grown together as a brotherhood. I feel like this defense can be as successful as we want it to be. Now, I'm going to finish class and fish for a month before we get back and get it started."
The next important task for Bates?
Keeping that kayak afloat.
Kansas State football wrapped up its spring practice season on Saturday, and senior defensive end Travis Bates eagerly awaits the end of the spring semester. That's when Bates, a veteran anchor to the Wildcats' defensive front, will return to his parents' home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and indulge in his favorite summer activity: Anchoring down his camouflaged kayak in the lake behind their house.
"I'll just fish there for a month, large-mouth bass, and I have my little camo-colored kayak that's a lot of fun," he says. "That's 278 pounds on a little kayak. I have a lot of fun, but I almost capsize the thing. If I tip one way, we're going under."
When summer workouts and then fall camp begins, the 6-foot-3, 278-pound Bates plans to do more than help the K-State defense stay afloat. He expects the defense — and its many talented defensive ends — to be humming like his parents' ski boat.
"Up front, we're attacking, and that's what I really like about it," Bates says. "We're way more an attacking front than a year ago, and that's more fun, because it gives the defensive line an opportunity to make plays on every single play, and not just on certain plays.
"Being able to attack is a lot fun, and I'm going to enjoy that."
Just as the bass like to strike at Bates' Senko bait on a calm Texas morning, Bates expects to do some striking of his own at the expense of opposing quarterbacks in the fall.
A year ago, Bates saw time on 390 defensive snaps over the 12-game season and recorded 20 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup. During his first season at K-State in 2024, he saw time on 223 defensive snaps and finished with 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
After posting two sacks in 2024 and in 2005, he's seeking a higher sack total this fall.
"Yeah, 100%, I want to double that," he says. "I want to triple that."
He plans to do so with his muscled 278-pound frame after weighing 269 pounds a year ago.
"Putting on more muscle mass and cutting fat has helped me to be more explosive," he says. "I put on weight the right way. We've had numerous conversations about my weight and where I need to be. I feel great. I'm more explosive."
And after seeing time on 613 defensive snaps over his two seasons at K-State, Bates, who studiously watches film of his play and his opponents, feels at the top of his game, which could lead to peak on-field production.
"I see the game very slow now," he says. "Everything has slowed down. When I first got here, I remember I felt like I got punched in the mouth every single play because I had no idea what was coming. I've gotten better at backfield recognition, and the game has slowed down to the point where it makes it a lot easier to make plays rather than just filling a gap."
As for the No. 1 thing on Bates' list to improve over fall camp?
"Pass rush," he says. "I'm solid on the run support, but my pass rush has to get better. I need to be better with my hands, just more consistent with it. There would be some plays when I was really good and some plays when my hands weren't as good. I want to be more consistent."
This is the third group of defensive ends that Bates has been a part of during his time at K-State. Every year is different. This group appears to stand out under veteran defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt.
"The culture is really good," Bates says. "Coach Wyatt brings an energy. He's an older guy and this younger staff has brought out the best in him. It's a good thing. It's been fun with Coach Wyatt and the new defensive ends just because it's something new.
"It's just the different skillsets we have. We have a lot of guys who can rush from the outside, and we have a lot of guys who can get on the speed package and on the faster packages and rush from the middle. The versatility of our defensive end group is really exciting."
This group features several new faces, featuring sophomores Wendell Gregory (Oklahoma State), Jayden Bryant (Coastal Carolina), and Elijah Hill (Kennesaw State). The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Gregory earned 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors after posting 27 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble while playing in every game with four starts. His 12.0 tackles for loss ranked second in the FBS among freshmen and his three sacks in the season opener against UT Martin tied Colorado's Aldon Smith (2009) for most sacks in a single game by a freshman in Big 12 history.
"He's good, he's really good," Bates says. "Obviously, he has some work to do, but he's got all the tools to be a great pass rusher and a great run stopper."
Bates remembers the young days of his own career. Heck, there was a time when Bates wondered if he might even reach this level. Lightly regarded coming out of Tomball (Texas) High School, Bates went to Austin Peay State and worked hard to prove to himself that he could play college football. Bates did exactly that and earned Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele.
Turned out it was a steppingstone as he was able to transfer to K-State.
"When I was younger, I couldn't even dream of doing something like this," he says "I just wanted to play varsity football. What I've learned is no matter what happens, there's nothing that hard work can't do — hard work and consistency. Nothing is given to you. You have to earn it.
"That's why I love being at K-State, because that's the mantra of this whole university — you have to take what you want, and it's not going to just be given to you. I've learned hard work can take you a long way."
And now with the end of the spring practice season, it's time for a well-deserved break.
"I wasn't ready to end spring ball, but we finished it out the right way," Bates says. "We've grown together as a brotherhood. I feel like this defense can be as successful as we want it to be. Now, I'm going to finish class and fish for a month before we get back and get it started."
The next important task for Bates?
Keeping that kayak afloat.
Players Mentioned
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