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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K-States Future Schedule Is Taking Shape In A Big Way
Kansas States future non-conference slate is filling in fast, and the latest addition gives the Wildcats another home game to look forward to in the 2029 season. Sam Houston is headed to Manhattan for a first-ever meeting on Sept. 15, 2029, adding another familiar scheduling wrinkle for a program that has been busy locking in opponents well beyond the immediate horizon.
The Wildcats have now finalized a run of non-league matchups stretching from 2026 through 2032, with games set against Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane, South Dakota, Georgia Southern, Texas State, Oregon State and North Carolina State. For a program that has spent plenty of time balancing regional fit, Power Four caliber tests and shorter trips that make sense financially, the growing list offers a clearer picture of what the next several seasons could look like, even if there are still pieces left to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States 2026 Hopes Rest On Three Huge Senior Questions
Kansas States long view for 2026 is already taking shape, and the senior class is right at the center of it. As part of a series breaking down five Wildcats from each class who could matter in that season, the focus now shifts to three veterans whose rsums and roles will loom large if the roster develops the way the staff hopes. Quarterback Avery Johnson remains the face of the offense, wide receiver Jaron Tibbs brings another layer to the passing game, and transfer defensive back Adrian Maddox is the kind of piece that can change the look of the secondary.
The reason those names matter is simple: the Wildcats are trying to project beyond the present, and senior-year decisions tend to shape what comes next in Manhattan. Johnsons growth, Tibbs fit in the receiver room, and Maddoxs place on defense all carry different kinds of weight, especially with coaching changes and current eligibility realities adding another layer of uncertainty. None of it is settled yet, but these are the kinds of players who can turn a 2026 conversation from hopeful to serious. [Read more 🡒]