ESSENTIAL: Zashon Rich to LEAD Kansas State Wildcats in 2026—Will the Secondary SURPRISE Fans?

Kansas State Wildcats signal Zashon Rich as a defensive cornerstone for 2026, but is the secondary ready to thrive under coach Jordan Peterson’s new regime? Christian Rauh and Jon Grove break down why Rich’s veteran leadership, snap count dominance, and overlooked national profile make him as pivotal as quarterback Avery Johnson and running back Joe Jackson to the Wildcats’ postseason ambitions. The conversation spotlights rising stars like Donovan McIntosh and transfers such as Caleb Patterson and Adrian Maddox, while questioning if the revamped cornerback and safety rotations can cover gaps in proven depth. Key topics include the impact of the Big 12’s third-easiest schedule, the significance of player development during fall camp, and which under-the-radar talents might become future NFL prospects. Will Kansas State’s secondary silence critics and power a championship run, or will questions about depth and experience linger deep into the season? Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - IMAGN Go AD Free and More with the Everydayer's Club! Learn More Here: https://lockedonkansasstate.supercast.com/ Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/lockedonKState Follow the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HhcfyjaoLGxYjsL1KmSZM More Coverage from Christian Rauh: https://blueprintsportsnetwork.com/ #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #KansasStateWildcats #NCAA #CollegeFootball Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Big 12 Conference, Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes, West Virginia Mountaineers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.