Joining a storied list of Kansas State greats, quarterback Avery Johnson and running back Dylan Edwards were named to the 2025 Maxwell Award preseason watch list, aiming to follow in the footsteps of Wildcats legends who’ve left their mark on college football.
The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) released its preseason watch list for the 2025 Maxwell Award, given annually to college football’s most outstanding player.
Johnson and Edwards join an elite group of Wildcats who’ve earned Maxwell recognition over the years, including RB Darren Sproles (2004), WR Tyler Lockett (2014), and QB Skylar Thompson (2020, 2021).
🏈 @KStateFB 's @avery2johnson has been named to the #MaxwellAward Watch List! 🏆#MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/SfuPeTg2Oq
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) July 28, 2025
Former K-State signal-callers Jake Waters, Michael Bishop, and Collin Klein also have made deep runs in the award’s history as semifinalists and finalists.
Johnson broke out in 2024, his first year as a starter, throwing for 2,712 yards and setting a school record with 25 touchdown passes. He added 605 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground, helping lead K-State to a 9–4 finish.
This offseason, his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. ESPN ranks Johnson as a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, and he earned an invite this offseason to the prestigious Manning Passing Academy — a proving ground for elite quarterbacks.
Heading into 2025, Johnson is chasing more milestones.
He ranks sixth in K-State history in career passing efficiency (137.2), tied for ninth in touchdown passes (30), and sits just 186 rushing yards shy of cracking the school’s top 10 among rushing quarterbacks. His 71.4% career winning percentage is also tied for 10th among Wildcats signal-callers since 1990.
Edwards had his own breakout in 2024, rushing for 546 yards and five touchdowns on just 74 carries.
He chipped in 133 receiving yards and two more scores, but his star moment came in the Rate Bowl.
Edwards exploded for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns on the ground — plus a receiving touchdown — en route to Offensive MVP honors in K-State’s win over Rutgers.
🏈@kstatefb‘s @dylan_edwards02 has been named to the #MaxwellAward Watch List! 🏆 #MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/2rXdxG11lU
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) July 28, 2025
The Wildcats enter 2025 with momentum and a national spotlight. They’re ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index — the highest Big 12 ranking.
And the season opener is set for a global stage.
“Farmageddon” goes international as Kansas State travels to face Iowa State in their storied rivalry. With both teams poised for Big 12 contention, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
With two stars on the national radar and championship hopes in sight, 2025 could be a defining season for the Wildcats.