Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson is headed to the Manning Passing Academy later this month—another sign of the rising junior’s growing national profile.
Johnson, who led K-State to a 9–4 finish in his first year as a starter, is among the college quarterbacks invited to work the prestigious camp, which runs June 26–29 at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Notable QBs attending the 2025 Manning Passing Academy🎯https://t.co/iMKG06KSsF pic.twitter.com/VIF9rUWaEP
— On3 (@On3sports) June 6, 2025
Run by the Manning family—Archie, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli—the event is in its 29th year and routinely features some of the top QB talent in the country.
Johnson broke out in 2024 as one of college football’s most electrifying dual-threat quarterbacks. Now, he’s also drawing NFL attention. ESPN recently named him one of the top 2026 draft prospects to watch.
“He’s just got that aura about him,” K-State head coach Chris Klieman told K-State Sports. “He’s not afraid to lead and hold guys accountable. He’s embraced the role and taken it to the next level.”
The Wildcats open the 2025 season on a global stage, facing Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland. With Johnson under center, expectations are high in Manhattan.
K-State lands at No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings for FOX Sports, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index—the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the model.
The Wildcats went 5–4 in conference play last season and closed with a 44–41 win over Rutgers in the Dec. 26 bowl game.