With longtime quarterback Will Howard now at Ohio State, the Kansas State Wildcats handed the keys of the program to true sophomore Avery Johnson.
However, as head coach Chris Klieman said, that was always the plan.
Where Did Kansas State QB Avery Johnson Play in High School?
Johnson grew up in Kansas State’s backyard, attending Maize High School in Maize, Kansas. He became the starter as a sophomore and quickly displayed his dual-threat abilities, throwing for 2,109 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just three interceptions while rushing for an additional 10 scores.
His junior year was even more prolific — 2,549 yards and 20 TDs through the air with 1,080 yards and 22 TDs on the ground — resulting in first-team All-State honors and several Power Five scholarship offers.
However, neither season matched Johnson’s success as a senior. Leading Maize to a 12-1 record and a sub-state championship, he completed 67% of his passes for 2,768 yards, 29 TDs, and three INTs.
He was just as deadly in the running game, generating a 98-817-15 line. If his football numbers weren’t impressive enough, Johnson also made his mark on the basketball and baseball teams, highlighting his all-around athleticism.
The offers kept rolling in for the consensus top prospect in the state, especially after he was selected to compete in the All-American Bowl, the Under Armour All-America Game, and the Elite 11 QB competition.
Yet, even with Oregon, Washington, and multiple SEC programs fighting for his services, Johnson stuck with his hometown team, becoming K-State’s first Elite 11 QB since Josh Freeman in 2005.
“He had an ‘it’ factor,” Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman said on what stood out about Johnson. “You can tell the guys that have it factors, and the confidence but not arrogance.”
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Johnson wasn’t content with just finishing high school that spring. He used his commitment to help the Wildcats’ recruiting efforts. After his announcement, K-State officially hosted 10 undecided prospects.
By February, the program landed signatures from eight of them, with Johnson texting and direct messaging the recruits on social media to persuade them to join him in Manhattan. Despite sitting behind Howard as a true freshman, Johnson continued to make his mark for the Wildcats — only this time, it was on the field.
Against Texas Tech in Week 6, K-State rotated their QBs, but there was no questioning Johnson far outplayed Howard. He ran for all five of the team’s TDs in the game, single-handedly powering the Wildcats to a 38-21 victory.
Then, after Howard entered the portal following the conclusion of the regular season, Johnson earned his first start of the year in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State. He accounted for 249 total yards and three TDs with turnovers in a 28-19 win, earning the game’s Most Valuable Player honor.
Throughout the season, Johnson played in eight games, amassing 479 passing yards, five TDs, and no INTs while also rushing for 296 yards and seven scores — tying for the most by a true freshman with Deuce Vaughn (2020).
“We saw enough last year that for us, we knew he was going to be the guy long term for us, and he was ready for the moment,” Klieman said when asked about Johnson at Big 12 Media Days this summer.
“It was his time, and I told him when we recruited him, he’s going to be the face of the program. And it came up late in his first year where he ended up truly being the face, and I’m excited because he’s taken that mantle really well, and he’s been a great leader.”
With a standout freshman season and a clear path ahead, Johnson is poised to step into the spotlight as Kansas State’s new cornerstone and fulfill the high expectations set for him.
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