Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson is back on a major preseason radar, and ESPN has made it clear just how important it thinks he could be in 2026.
The Wildcats’ veteran has spent years being talked up as a breakout candidate, but that promise has yet to fully cash in since 2023. Now, with his original coordinator, Collin Klein, back in place to call the offense next season, there’s renewed belief that Johnson can finally put it together.
ESPN included Johnson among the 40 most important players in the country for next season, a nod to both his role in Kansas State’s plans and what the program needs from him. The outlet summed up the upside this way: "Take Johnson, a dynamic dual-threat and former blue-chipper with a solid arm and excellent mobility and sack avoidance, and make him 10% more like Collin Klein, and you have something special," the article wrote.
Still, the optimism comes with some real hesitation. Johnson has not come close to a conference title, even though Kansas State has repeatedly been viewed as a contender.
His game has also drawn some questions because, while the tools are obvious, the production has not always matched them. At times, he’s been too cautious - either not using his legs enough or not attacking downfield.
That showed up last season, when his inability to truly raise Kansas State’s level became one of the biggest reasons the Wildcats fell short in the chase for a conference championship. Johnson is at his best in play-action and the short passing game, but that alone hasn’t been enough to open up the offense on the perimeter.
That’s where Klein’s return matters. Kansas State is banking on its familiar play-caller helping Johnson get back to the version of himself that once had people projecting a conference star.
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Garrett Oakley has spent enough time around Kansas States program to no longer be treated like just another veteran tight end. After a productive season last fall, the senior has become one of the more intriguing pieces in Collin Kleins first year as head coach, with Klein praising Oakleys athleticism and upside as the Wildcats work through training camp and sort out how their offense will look this season.
Kansas State also has highly recruited tight end Linkon Cure on the roster, which only adds another layer to the position groups outlook. For a team trying to settle into a new era under Klein, Oakleys emergence gives the Wildcats a real problem to solve, one that could shape how often they lean on multiple-tight-end looks and how they distribute targets once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
These K-State Stars Could Decide Collin Klein's First Season
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Jacobi Oliphant Jr. Gives Kansas State More Defensive Depth To Watch
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Oliphants background makes him worth watching beyond the usual transfer buzz. He came out of high school as a highly regarded defensive back, and football runs in the family, which often shows up in how quickly a player adjusts to a new system. For Kansas State, the appeal is straightforward: a versatile defender who can help the unit in multiple phases, even as the larger question is how much of a role he can win once the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]