Even if you live under a rock in Manhattan, Kansas, you know who Avery Johnson is. Avery Johnson is K-State's best quarterback recruit they have had in years, their top quarterback recruit ever.
Johnson was the highest-ranked recruit in the state of Kansas was a four-star recruit by 247Sports and was recruited and offered a spot at programs like Oregon, Arizona, Washington, and Arizona State. However, the Maize, Kansas native chose to stay close to home and attend Kansas State, and the Wildcats could not be more excited.
Since he stepped foot on campus, there has been so much buzz about what Johnson can do within the Kansas State football program. Fans were biting at the bit to see him on the field, but the funny thing is that the Wildcats didn't even need him in the regular season last year since they had star quarterback Will Howard as their starter.
K-State has no reason to need a new starter, but knowing who they had waiting on the sidelines, Chris Klieman didn't want to wait any longer and Will Howard probably knew that and that is probably what prompted his transfer to Ohio State.
Avery Johnson brings more than just a strong arm, or the ability to scramble to K-State. He brings the hope of a future of winning at K-State, one that the Wildcats have not known a lot of since the early days of Bill Snyder.
In the zone ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/wAdEjqVxQS
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) August 2, 2024
The Wildcats have been successful in the Chris Klieman years, but Johnson may be the player that brings the Wildcats over the finish line of consistently winning the Big 12 and making it to the College Football Playoff.
In the Pop-Tarts Bowl, a game every K-State fan knew Johnson would start, Johnson may not have had the most impressive stat line, but what he did in that game was special. his ability to get away from defenders and extend plays was something NC State was never able to figure out. Many defenders spoke about how his speed was something they had never seen before.
Johnson is about to start his second season at K-State, this time taking on the starter role, but in this day in age in college football, loyalty is something tough to come by. Wildcat fans feel like Johnson isn't going anywhere and if that is the case, he has the ability to become the best quarterback in Kansas State history, possibly taking that throne from Michael Bishop.
There is a lot of talk about Dillon Gabriel, Jalen Milroe, and even Will Howard winning the Heisman Trophy this season, but don't count Johnson out. There have been some analysts who have said Johnson could be a dark horse in the race this season.
Avery Johnson is the present for Kansas State right now, but if he chooses to stay, he could be the future and help build this program at Kansas State with Chris Klieman at the helm.