The long blonde hair flows out the back of the helmet. He’s fast. Like, track-star-in-pads fast. But if you think Avery Johnson K State is just another dual-threat quarterback experiment, you haven't been paying attention to what Chris Klieman is building in Manhattan. It’s rare to see a kid with this much local hype actually live up to the noise. Usually, the "hometown hero" narrative crumbles under the weight of expectations or a stiff defensive line in November. Avery? He seems to thrive on it.
He’s the first five-star-caliber recruit to stay home for the Wildcats in what feels like forever. Fans in Kansas have seen plenty of solid, gritty quarterbacks. They’ve seen the Collin Kleins and the Skylar Thompsons. Those guys were tough. They won games with heart and a bruising rushing style. But Johnson brings a different gear. It’s an effortless kind of athleticism that makes Big 12 defenders look like they’re running through wet sand.
Honestly, the transition from the Will Howard era to the Avery Johnson era wasn't just a depth chart move. It was a cultural shift.
The Pop-Tart Bowl Was Just The Beginning
Everyone remembers the 2023 Pop-Tart Bowl. Yeah, the mascot was edible and weird, but the real story was Johnson taking the keys to the offense. He didn't just drive the car; he took it off-roading. That game against NC State was the "aha" moment for the national media. He accounted for three touchdowns and looked completely unfazed by the pressure of starting for a departing veteran.
What's wild is that he was a true freshman doing that.
Most kids that age are still trying to figure out how to read a disguised Cover 2. Johnson was out there making check-downs and knowing exactly when to tuck the ball and scramble for fifteen yards. You can’t coach that internal clock. You either have it or you don’t. He has it. And he has it in spades.
People love to talk about his speed. He’s recorded GPS speeds that rival elite wide receivers. But if you watch the tape closely, his biggest asset is his composure. When the pocket collapses—and in the Big 12, it always does eventually—he doesn't panic. He moves laterally, keeps his eyes downfield, and waits for a lane to open.
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Breaking Down the Mechanical Growth
Let’s get nerdy for a second. In high school at Maize, Avery could outrun everyone. He didn't have to be a technical master because he was just better than the guys chasing him. Since arriving at K-State, his footwork has tightened up significantly.
- His dropback is more rhythmic now.
- He’s learned to use his hips to generate power on deep outs, rather than just relying on his arm talent.
- The release is quicker. It’s a short, snappy motion that gets the ball out before the pass rush can clear the offensive tackles.
Coach Klieman and offensive coordinator Conor Riley have been smart. They didn't dump the whole playbook on him on day one. They started with high-percentage throws and designed runs. As the 2024 season progressed, you saw the "training wheels" come off. They started asking him to make NFL-style reads across the middle of the field. Sometimes he missed. Sometimes he threw a pick he shouldn’t have. But that’s the price of admission for a young superstar.
Why Avery Johnson K State Fits the New Big 12
The Big 12 is wide open now. Oklahoma and Texas are gone. There’s a vacuum at the top, and Kansas State is positioned to fill it. For a long time, K-State was the underdog. Now? They’re the hunted.
Having a quarterback like Avery Johnson changes how teams have to defend the Wildcats. You can’t just stack the box to stop the run anymore. If you do, Avery will burn you over the top. If you play soft coverage, he’ll pick you apart with short gains or just run for a first down himself. It’s a "pick your poison" scenario that hasn’t existed in Manhattan for quite a while.
The chemistry with guys like DJ Giddens is also crucial. Having a world-class running back next to him in the backfield takes the heat off. Defenses have to respect the handoff, which gives Johnson that extra split second to make a decision. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
The Identity of a Local Legend
There’s something different about a kid who grows up in the state. He understands what the Sunflower Showdown means. He knows that beating Kansas isn't just a game; it's a year’s worth of bragging rights at every gas station from Wichita to Salina.
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Johnson chose K-State over basically every powerhouse in the country. He could have gone to Oregon. He could have gone to the SEC. He stayed. That carries weight in the locker room. When the "big name" guy is also the hardest worker and the local kid, the rest of the team follows.
You’ll see him at local events, or just hanging out around campus. He’s not some distant superstar. He’s basically the face of the university at this point. That kind of pressure would break some people. It seems to just fuel him.
Tackling the Concerns: Can He Stay Healthy?
This is the conversation nobody wants to have but everyone is thinking. If you’re a running quarterback in a physical league, you’re going to take hits. We saw it with Skylar Thompson. We see it every year in college football.
Johnson isn't a small guy, but he isn't a linebacker either. He’s lean. The coaching staff has been preaching the "slide." Seriously. They want him to get down. You don't need to take a shoulder to the chest from a 250-pound defensive end for an extra two yards in the second quarter.
The durability factor is the only thing that could potentially derail the Avery Johnson hype train. If he stays upright, the sky is the limit. If he gets dinged up, K-State has to rely on depth that—honestly—just doesn't have the same "it" factor.
Improving the Deep Ball
If we’re being real, the deep ball was a bit inconsistent early on. He’d occasionally overshoot a vertical route or lose his touch on the sidelines. That’s normal.
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However, by the midpoint of his first full season as the undisputed starter, the improvement was obvious. He started putting more air under the ball, letting his receivers run under it rather than trying to laser it through a tiny window. That touch is what separates the "runners who can throw" from the "quarterbacks who happen to be fast."
The Impact of NIL and the Modern Era
We can't talk about Avery Johnson K State without mentioning the lavender corvette. Or the NIL deals.
Johnson is a poster child for how to do NIL right in a mid-market. He’s partnered with local businesses, he’s visible, and he’s using his brand to elevate the entire program. It’s a win-win. K-State fans have stepped up to ensure their star stays put, and in return, they’re getting a generational talent who actually wants to be there.
It’s a far cry from the old days where a kid like this would have been poached by a "blue blood" program after one good season. The transfer portal is always a threat, but Johnson’s roots in Kansas run deep. It feels like he’s playing for more than just a draft grade.
What to Watch for Next
If you're following the trajectory of this program, there are a few specific things to keep an eye on over the next twelve months:
- Red Zone Efficiency: Watch how often Johnson uses his legs inside the 10-yard line versus looking for the tight end. His ability to navigate tight spaces will determine if K-State leads the league in scoring.
- The Mid-Range Game: Look for more 10-to-15-yard completions on third down. This is the hallmark of a maturing quarterback.
- Leadership Dynamics: As more veterans graduate, Johnson becomes the undisputed voice of the team. How he handles a tough loss or a locker room slump will be his true test.
- NFL Draft Stock: Scouts are already circling. They want to see him bulk up slightly without losing that elite twitch.
The reality is that Avery Johnson represents a new era for Kansas State football. It’s a faster, flashier, and more confident version of the program. Whether he leads them to a Big 12 title or even a playoff berth remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: you can't afford to blink when he's on the field.
For fans and analysts alike, the move is to stop comparing him to the legends of the past and just enjoy the show he's putting on right now. The blonde hair, the speed, and the poise—it’s a rare combination that doesn't come around Manhattan very often. Enjoy it while it's here.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
Check the upcoming K-State schedule and look for matchups against high-pressure blitzing teams. These are the games where Johnson’s development is most visible. Pay attention to his "throw-away" rate—knowing when to kill a play is just as important as knowing when to make one. Finally, watch his post-game interviews; the way he credits his offensive line tells you everything you need to know about his longevity as a leader.