Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham didn’t need much of an excuse to talk about Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson this week, and he got one anyway.
The Sun Devils and Wildcats are set to meet Saturday in Tempe, and Dillingham’s connection to Johnson goes back to the recruiting trail. Five years ago, he made a major push for the quarterback from Maize (Kan.)
High School, but Johnson ultimately chose Kansas State. Dillingham brought that up during his weekly press conference and pointed to first-year Kansas State coach Collin Klein as the reason that pursuit never went anywhere.
He also said Johnson is arguably playing the best football of his college career.
That assessment fits the way Johnson looked in last week’s Sunflower Showdown. In Kansas State’s 35-24 win over Kansas at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, he completed 14 of 24 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown while adding 132 rushing yards on 12 carries. He is also in the middle of his third season as the full-time starter, and while he has the option to return for a fifth year, this could be his final season in college.
Kansas State may be shorthanded again on offense when it visits Arizona State.
Klein said tight end Garrett Oakley is unlikely to play after missing last week’s game against the Jayhawks because of an undisclosed illness. Asked about Oakley at his weekly press conference, Klein said, "Probably unlikely, but we'll see," and added, "Day to day."
Oakley’s absence opened more snaps for sophomore Linkon Cure, one of the most talked-about players in the program’s history. He is the first five-star recruit to ever play at Kansas State.
The Wildcats also are dealing with another injury at tight end. Backup Will Anciaux was announced two weeks ago as out for the season after suffering a lower leg injury.
Klein has also been trying something different with left tackle Oliver Miller, moving him to tight end. Miller lined up there last week in the win over Kansas.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Added More Fuel To A Rivalry Kansas Cant Stop
The latest Sunflower Showdown only deepened a rivalry Kansas cant seem to crack. Kansas State handled the 124th meeting 35-14, stretching its run in the series to 18 straight and once again leaving the Wildcats with bragging rights that extend far beyond one October afternoon. Avery Johnson was at the center of it, piling up 209 passing yards and 132 rushing yards while helping Kansas State control the game from start to finish.
The follow-up recognition fit the moment, with kicker Luis Rodriguez and defensive back Nick McClennan earning Big 12 weekly honors after their roles in the win. For a program that already has one of the leagues most lopsided rivalries in hand, the timing only adds to the momentum, especially with Iowa State, Cincinnati and other opponents waiting on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has A Key Preseason Question To Sort Out
Kansas State is getting close to the point where the talking stops and the lineups start to matter. At Big 12 Media Days, coach Casey Alexander said the Wildcats are getting ready for their upcoming exhibitions against Missouri and Nebraska, while Brandon Rechsteiner and Isaiah Abraham helped frame a team still trying to sort out where everybody fits before the games begin to count.
The biggest wrinkle is Timo Malovec, whose preseason injury makes him unlikely to be available for the opener and adds another variable to a roster still under evaluation. Alexander said the starting five has not been finalized, which leaves Kansas State with a little more to learn in the next stretch, especially with health and performance both weighing on how the rotation comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have A New Backfield Problem Brewing
Collin Klein said Jay Harris did not get an offensive role in Kansas States recent game against Kansas because the staff wanted to reward Joe Jackson and Fields for their work and avoid over-coaching the backfield rotation. It was presented as a situational decision, one meant to help the primary runners settle into a rhythm rather than a permanent shift, but it still offered a small glimpse into how the Wildcats are sorting out touches behind a run-heavy offense.
That matters because Kansas State leans on the ground game as a central part of its offensive identity, especially with Avery Johnsons running ability adding another layer to the attack. When a backfield is being managed on feel and flow as much as on depth-chart order, every game can become a test of how the coaching staff balances development, reward and production without disrupting the offenses timing. [Read more 🡒]