Wendell Gregory Humble After ‘Mediocre’ 3-Sack Effort: ‘I Want More’

STILLWATER — Wendell Gregory only sacked UT-Martin’s quarterback three times.

Emphasis on “only,” at least if you let Gregory tell it.

“For me, it was kind of mediocre,” Gregory said.

Put another way, Gregory became the first Cowboy to record three sacks in the same game since Jordan Brailford did so against Kansas in 2018. Only Gary Lewis (four) and Andrel Waddle (3.5) have ever recorded more for OSU in a single game.

Oh yeah, and Gregory also tied a Big 12 freshman record for sacks set by Missouri’s Aldon Smith in 2009.

“Gregory is a special young talent,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “He’s got ability, and he’s young and raw. He didn’t play last year enough to even talk about, so that’s really the first time he’s played much, but he did a good job.”

Gregory, a redshirt freshman transfer from South Carolina, played seven total snaps last year, according to Pro Football Focus. In the 27-7 win over UT Martin, he played 34 snaps.

“A lot of people counted me out,” Gregory said. “As y’all know, I went to South Carolina, didn’t play, I wanted to hit the portal and go somewhere to call home. Coach Grantham, Coach Gundy, everybody here, it was a no-brainer. I love ‘em, so I had to come here.”

According to PFF, Gregory also hurried the quarterback twice, meaning he impacted the quarterback a team-high five times in total on 14 attempts rushing the passer.

“We have this thing called ‘no mas’ which means we want the quarterback out the game,” Gregory said, explaining what he thinks about while pursuing quarterbacks. “I just think ‘no mas’ really. Every time I come off that rock, I want the quarterback to get out the game, throw the white flag.”

Last season, former Cowboy Obi Ezeigbo led the team in total quarterback pressures (sacks, hits and hurries) with 35. DeSean Brown, who left Thursday’s game with an injury, finished with 28 last season.

“(Gregory is) 265 pounds and they’ve done a good job coaching him … he’s powerful and he’s shifty,” Gundy said. “He can do some of the things that Collin Oliver used to, but he’s 27 pounds bigger.”

For context, Oliver finished his freshman season with 11.5 sacks and 40 total pressures.

The closest Gregory came to bragging during his postgame interview was his response to a question asking him if there was a play he made in his Cowboy debut that stood out.

“Not really,” he said. “The sacks are cool, but I want more.”

Gregory said the “sky is the limit” for Oklahoma State’s defense this season. He will get the chance to prove that next week at No. 7 Oregon. The Ducks (0-0) tied for 40th last season in sacks allowed, limiting opponents to 1.5 per game on average.

For what it’s worth, these Ducks will be without offensive linemen Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius, who went in the first and sixth rounds, respectively, of the 2025 NFL Draft.

“This is a statement game, 100%,” Gregory said. “Last year it wasn’t the best, so I feel like this game can solidify everything.”