It is no surprise that Avery Johnson is the most important person on this team going forward. However, the pressure is on now for Johnson, the safety net of Will Howard is now gone and all eyes will be on him.
Johnson saw the field every now and then during the 2023 season, more so toward the end of the season when Klieman began to use both Howard and Johnson during games. Johnson was given his first starting opportunity during the Pop-Tarts Bowl after the news of Howard transferring broke. Even though Johnson's number doesn't fly off the stat sheet, he was still able to lead the Wildcats past the No. 18 NC State Wolfpack in his first true start at Kansas State.
Johnson will have a lot to prove in his first season as a full-time starter, but he has the faith and full support of the whole team and the entire fan base at Kansas State. He will be the leader of this team at a young age, but with the poise he showed in his first season at Kansas State, there is a lot of excitement in Manhattan.