Avery Johnson is heading into the kind of season that defines a quarterback’s legacy at Kansas State.
The Wildcats star is entering his third full year as the starter, and this one feels different because there isn’t much runway left. Johnson is in his final season in the K-State spotlight, and the expectation around him is clear: this is the year he has to turn all that promise into something bigger.
College Football News put it bluntly: "Avery Johnson is way overdue to be amazing. The veteran quarterback has had moments when he looked and played like a dominant all-around force, and other times he's been just okay.He's got the size, mobility, athleticism, and now, he has the experience with close to 5,600 career yards and 48 touchdowns."
That’s the tension with Johnson. He has already shown enough to make people believe he can be one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football. But the consistency hasn’t fully matched the talent, and that’s why the breakout talk keeps following him.
When Johnson stepped in late in the season for then-starter Will Howard, he did it with the kind of calm that made it easy to see why Kansas State trusted him. Since then, he’s taken steps forward. Now the question is whether those steps lead to a real jump.
There’s at least one major reason to think the setup is better for him this time around: new coach Collin Klein.
Klein arrived after Chris Klieman unexpected resigned, and he brings a very specific kind of credibility to the job. He’s a former K-State star who also played quarterback, and he spent last season as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Texas A & M.
That background matters for Johnson. If anyone can help him unlock another level, it’s a coach who knows the position, knows the program, and understands what a quarterback like Johnson can become.
If it clicks, Kansas State could be in the mix for the Big 12 title and a shot in the College Football Playoff. It could also do plenty for Johnson’s NFL Draft stock, while giving Klein a stronger case as a quarterback guru.
For Johnson, though, the storyline is simpler than all of that. This is his last chance to make the leap everyone has been waiting on.
In Other News...
Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair, Mikey Bergeron Embody What Keeps K-State Dangerous
Kansas States roster building has always leaned on more than just star power, and the 2026 group is shaping up that way again with 22 players from Kansas expected to be on hand. That local backbone matters because it feeds into the Wildcats identity: a team that can win with familiar faces, developed depth and players who understand what the program asks of them. Avery Johnson, Wesley Fair and Mikey Bergeron each fit that mold in a different way, giving K-State a presence on offense, defense and special teams as the new season approaches.
Johnson is the obvious headliner, but the Wildcats edge also depends on the kind of support that doesnt always grab the spotlight. Fairs role on defense and Bergerons value on special teams both point to a roster that has room for impact beyond the marquee names, and both players are positioned to matter in ways that could shape how steady this team looks week to week. For a program that expects to stay dangerous, the question is not just what Johnson does with the ball, but how much help he gets from the players around him. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Big 12 Media Days
Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco have become the leagues annual offseason checkpoint, with all 16 teams cycling through questions about roster changes, coaching turnover and what the next season might look like. For Kansas State, the setting matters because Collin Klein is among the four coaches making his first podium appearance in this forum, giving Wildcats fans a first real look at how the programs new voice will sound on a stage built for leaguewide attention.
Theres also a more immediate football reason to tune in. Avery Johnson is part of the group of returning quarterbacks drawing interest in Frisco, and his presence gives K-State a familiar face in a room full of change. Add in the possibility of commissioner Brett Yormark weighing in on the sports biggest issues, and the Wildcats corner of media days feels like more than just background noise. [Read more 🡒]