Kansas State got exactly the kind of start Collin Klein wanted from Avery Johnson.
The Wildcats’ quarterback was steady, efficient and in control in Saturday’s 71-3 win over Nicholls at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and that’s the formula Klein is trying to build around this season. Johnson finished 15 of 21 for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding four carries for 23 yards and another score. In the process, he moved past Will Howard for the school record in passing touchdowns.
Klein said he liked what he saw from Johnson in his first outing under a new coach.
"Well, I thought his pocket presence was really good," Klein said. "His decision-making on third down and distributing the football.
Thought he was accurate. Was able to be decisive in his decision-making.
There were a couple times they covered us and had us, and he was decisive. Pulled the ball down and kept us in second and two.
And I thought he made really, really good decisions, and I thought his communication on the sideline was really good- fixing problems, thinking of next steps, and with the guys around him."
That kind of performance is what Kansas State wants from Johnson: stay within the offense, make the right reads and avoid forcing the issue. The competition level is only going to rise from here, though.
The Wildcats’ next challenge comes Saturday at home against Washington State. After that, they’ll face Tulane before opening Big 12 play against Cincinnati.
Against Nicholls, Kansas State was rolling from the start. The Wildcats led 36-3 at halftime and added 35 more points after the break, finishing just five points shy of the school’s single-game record. It was a loud debut for Klein, and a reminder that when Johnson is comfortable, the whole offense can look that way too.
In Other News...
Collin Klein Had The Perfect Reaction To K-States 71-Point Outburst
Kansas States 71-point outburst against Nicholls was the kind of offensive showing that still stands out around Manhattan, especially because it was the first time the Wildcats had topped 70 since 2000. It also brought one of the programs more unusual traditions back into the spotlight, with Willie the Wildcat assigned a marathon push-up challenge tied to the scoring binge.
Collin Klein noticed the toll it took. The head coach offered a knowing reaction to Willies fatigue, saying he could relate to the physical grind of the task, which stretched over three hours. It was a lighthearted postgame footnote, but one that fit the mood around a rare offensive explosion and the kind of celebration that only Kansas State seems to make feel routine. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Backfield Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Washington State
Kansas States Week 2 depth chart came with a small but notable shakeup after the Wildcats 71-3 win over Nicholls, and it landed in the part of the roster that tends to draw the most attention. Collin Klein adjusted the running back order, moving Rodney Fields to the top of the group as Kansas State heads into its next matchup, a sign that the battle in the backfield is already worth watching this early in the season.
Elsewhere, the depth chart stayed mostly intact, which suggests the staff liked what it saw across most position groups in the opener. There were also some updates tied to snap counts and player availability, leaving the backfield change as the clearest indication that Kansas State is still sorting out exactly how it wants to distribute touches before Washington State comes to town. [Read more 🡒]
Darien Whitaker Is Giving Kansas State Reason To Feel Better Up Front
Darien Whitakers move from linebacker to defensive end has given Kansas State another reason to feel better about the front of its defense. In the Wildcats 71-3 win over Nicholls, Whitaker showed up with two tackles and a sack, the kind of productive outing that can make a position switch look a lot more natural than it did in August.
Collin Klein has already praised Whitakers effort and progress, and that matters for a defense still figuring out exactly how much it can trust its new pieces up front. The next test comes at home against Washington State, where Kansas State will get a better read on whether Whitakers early-season rise is a one-game bright spot or something the Wildcats can keep building around. [Read more 🡒]