Kansas State is on the brink of facing Arizona State without Avery Johnson under center, and all signs point to Jacob Knuth getting the nod Saturday at Mountain America Stadium.
The Wildcats downgraded Johnson to doubtful on Friday’s pregame availability report after he dealt with a shoulder injury in the neck/shoulder area, leaving K-State in line to move on from its senior quarterback for this matchup. Johnson had been listed as questionable for the previous two days.
The injury traces back to last week against Kansas, when Johnson came down awkwardly at the end of a 59-yard run and stayed on the turf for several minutes in visible pain. A teammate checked on him while he was down, and Johnson shook his head and pointed to his right shoulder before trainers rushed in to examine him.
He eventually got back on his feet and finished the game, later saying, “I just got the wind knocked out of me.” But the issue proved more serious than it first appeared.
If Johnson is unavailable, Knuth is the next man up. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior began his college career at Minnesota and has gone 3-for-3 passing for 25 yards in his K-State career. He completed all of his attempts for 9 yards in the season-opener against Nicholls.
Knuth has also contributed as a runner, with eight carries for 88 yards and one touchdown as a Wildcat. K-State could also mix in Rodney Fields and/or Joe Jackson on direct snaps from a wildcat look if Collin Klein wants to lean harder into the run game.
The quarterback situation has been a constant storyline for Kansas State this season. Blake Barnett has been out since the first game while recovering from a lower-body injury that left him using crutches, and Dillon Duff and Knuth have both regularly appeared on the questionable list before games.
Duff appears set to be available Saturday, while Barnett remains listed as questionable.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Serious Avery Johnson Problem
Avery Johnsons absence against Arizona State changed the look of Kansas States offense in a hurry, and it came after the quarterback was hurt in the previous game against Kansas. With Johnson unavailable, fifth-year senior Jacob Knuth got the start, giving the Wildcats a very different answer at the most important position on the field.
The bigger concern for Kansas State is that there is still no clear timeline for Johnsons return. Collin Klein said the medical staff is continuing to evaluate the injury, leaving the Wildcats to wait and see how long they might have to manage without the quarterback who has been central to their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Frustrating Loss Came Down To One Coaching Decision
Playing without starting quarterback, Kansas State still had enough to keep things within reach for a stretch at Mountain America Stadium, where Jacob Knuth filled in and handled the spot well enough to give the Wildcats a chance. Arizona State pulled away for a 28-17 win on Oct. 24, but the loss did not feel like one that was simply decided by injuries or a mismatch on paper.
Collin Kleins offense had its moments, yet one third-quarter coaching decision swung the tone of the game and blunted the momentum Kansas State had built. The result left the Wildcats with a frustrating finish and a film room full of grades to sort through, with offense, defense, special teams and coaching all coming under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Sounds Fed Up With What Kansas State Must Fix
After Kansas States 28-17 loss to Arizona State, Collin Klein didnt sound interested in dressing up what went wrong. He pointed to the offensive line and the lack of success on third down as major issues, and his postgame tone made it clear the Wildcats know there is plenty to clean up if they want the offense to function more consistently.
Jacob Knuth drew praise for the way he fought through the game, with Klein commending his toughness and competitiveness in a difficult setting. Beyond that, the message was bigger than one player or one play - Klein said the entire operation, from the roster to the coaching staff, has room to improve as Kansas State looks to regroup and reset. [Read more 🡒]