Change Is in the Air at Kansas State - and Avery Johnson Is at the Center of It
Kansas State football is staring down a pivotal moment, and the winds of change are blowing hard through Manhattan. With a wave of key departures hitting the program - names like Jayce Brown and Austin Romaine among the most notable - there’s a growing sense that this isn’t just your typical offseason roster churn.
It feels like a reset. And at the center of it all is quarterback Avery Johnson.
Now, let’s be clear: Johnson hasn’t entered the transfer portal. But given the exodus of talent and the retirement of head coach Chris Klieman, the idea of Johnson exploring his options no longer feels far-fetched.
It’s not just about who’s leaving - it’s about what their departure represents. A core group that once looked like the foundation for the program’s future is scattering, and that’s enough to make even the most committed players reconsider their path.
Johnson’s season was a mixed bag. Statistically, he delivered a solid campaign: 2,385 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, plus another 477 yards and eight scores on the ground.
He protected the football well for the most part, and his mobility added a dynamic layer to the offense. But the passing game never quite hit its stride.
Whether it was a reluctance to push the ball downfield or an overreliance on check-downs, Johnson’s aerial attack lacked the explosiveness needed to elevate the Wildcats in key moments.
Some of that falls on the offensive system under coordinator Matt Wells. But there were also stretches where Johnson didn’t fully tap into his dual-threat potential - hesitating to run when the pocket broke down or settling for short throws when bigger plays were available. That’s the kind of stuff that can be coached up, but it also raises questions about whether a fresh start might benefit both sides.
And yet, Johnson hasn’t closed the door on staying. Far from it. After the season, he spoke with the kind of emotion and loyalty that fans love to hear - especially from a homegrown talent.
“Just being a Kansas kid, coming to K-State and playing for Coach Klieman has been great up to this point,” Johnson said. “There’s gonna be question marks and things that are gonna be taken into account.
But there’s no doubt in my mind that I wanna play for Coach Klieman, and this is the place that I wanna be. There are things I gotta talk to my family about and pray about.
But I’m committed to this place, and I love this place more than anything in the world.”
That kind of passion matters, especially in a college football landscape where loyalty is often overshadowed by opportunity. Johnson’s connection to the program - and to Klieman specifically - runs deep. But with Klieman stepping away, the emotional anchor that tied Johnson to Manhattan may be loosening.
Enter Collin Klein - the offensive coordinator and former Wildcat quarterback who played a key role in bringing Johnson to K-State in the first place. If there’s anyone who can keep Johnson in purple, it’s Klein. And by all accounts, he’s working on it.
“I think we've had a couple of conversations already,” Klein said earlier this month. “It's funny that when you put us in a room, we're both football guys, and all of a sudden, after 10 minutes of pleasantries, we're talking about new schemes, what we've been working on, and new things we've been putting tweaks on.
I love him to death. It's why I recruited so hard to get him here.
He's dear to me."
That’s not just coach-speak - that’s a relationship built on trust, shared vision, and a mutual love of the game. And it could be the key to keeping Johnson in Manhattan.
Still, the reality is this: Kansas State is in transition. The roster is thinning, the coaching staff is shifting, and the identity of the program is up for grabs. Johnson has the talent to be a cornerstone, but he also has the leverage to explore other options if he feels the foundation around him is crumbling.
This is the new normal in college football. Players - especially quarterbacks - have more power than ever to shape their own futures. And while Johnson hasn’t made any moves yet, his situation is one to watch closely.
Because if Kansas State wants to weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side, keeping Avery Johnson in the fold might be the most important win of the offseason.