Kansas State’s offense enters a new chapter this fall, and Avery Johnson is already doing his part to make the transition smoother.
With Collin Klein now in charge after Chris Klieman’s sudden departure, the Wildcats are trying to piece together a reshaped roster in a hurry. The receiving room is one of the biggest questions hanging over the team, especially after the changes of the past few months. Johnson said the work has already started long before camp really got rolling.
“We spent a lot of time by ourselves throwing routes on air and stuff in the summer,” Johnson said in his fall camp press conference. “We were really intentional about getting work this off-season and building that chemistry so that it translated to fall camp.
We’re 10 or 11 practices in now, and I think we’re only progressing each day. I’m excited to see what those guys do on Sept. 5; they make my job a lot easier.”
That chemistry matters even more now that Jayce Brown is gone. Kansas State leaned heavily on him at times last season, and there were stretches when he was carrying much of the offense. Jaron Tibbs was a steady No. 2 option, but Brown was the one who opened the field and gave Johnson a reliable deep threat.
Now the Wildcats have to find that production somewhere else.
Joshua Manning looks like the leading candidate to emerge from the new group. He already has a connection with Johnson dating back to their high school days, and his numbers from last season at Missouri - 29 catches, 318 yards and two touchdowns - suggest there’s room for a bigger role in this offense.
Brandon White is another receiver drawing attention and could help fill out the primary group alongside tight end Garrett Oakley and former Texas A&M receiver Izaiah Williams. White posted 38 receptions for 399 yards and two touchdowns at Hawai'i last season.
Kansas State’s passing game may look very different, but Johnson’s message was clear: the work has been there all offseason, and the hope is that it shows when the games begin on Sept. 5.
In Other News...
Kansas State Enters A New Era With Latest Football Uniform Change
Kansas State is moving into a new commercial era this season, adding Purple Wave Auction as the first sponsored jersey patch in program history. The local online auction companys logo will appear on the football uniforms as part of a partnership announced by the university, with Learfield brokering the deal and helping line up additional digital, social media and in-game activations.
The arrangement also opens the door to NIL opportunities for players, giving the program another layer of revenue-connected visibility as the sport keeps expanding its sponsorship footprint. Purple Wave will join a growing collection of brands tied to Kansas State football and its game-day presence, including familiar names already seen around the uniforms and stadium, a sign of how quickly the Wildcats presentation is changing as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Wants A Different K State Start Under Collin Klein
Avery Johnson still sounds like a quarterback who remembers just how strange Kansas States 2025 opener felt in Ireland. The long trip, the different routine and the buildup to a game against Iowa State made for a demanding start to the season, and Johnson made it clear the Wildcats would welcome something more familiar when the next campaign begins.
Under new head coach Collin Klein, the priority now is a cleaner opening and a steadier approach to adversity. Johnson said the team is focused on handling those moments more professionally, and the fact that 2026 will start at home gives Kansas State a chance to settle in before the real pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]