The 2025 season is almost here, and a coach’s poll has shown that the favorite for the Big 12 is none other than Kansas State. The coaches had to pick two teams to play for the Big 12 title and they cannot choose their own team in that anonymous poll. Many picked Kansas State as one of those two teams, with the school being the most common answer.
During the “Crain & Company” podcast, On3 insider Andy Staples talked about Kansas State, particularly quarterback Avery Johnson.
Staples noted Johnson’s speed and said that the Wildcats should utilize more of it in the upcoming season.
“Like, if you go back to his freshman year, go to the TCU game his freshman year when they were splitting time between him and Will Howard a little bit. He looked like freshman Lamar Jackson running the ball. He didn’t look like that most of last year. He didn’t. And and I don’t know if there was an injury situation, but it didn’t feel like he was able to utilize that speed in the most effective way because if he’s as fast as he looked his freshman year, you don’t have to worry.” (19:20)
Avery threw a total of 2,712 yards, resulting in 25 touchdowns in 13 games played. He himself has rushed 605 yards and scored seven touchdowns as a sophomore.
New ESPN Projection for Big 12 Is Good News For Kansas State
It is not just coaches who say Kansas State is a big favorite in the Big 12 this year, but a new projection from ESPN says that the Wildcats have the potential to become one of the top 10 best offensive lines nationally during the 2025 season.
The projection noted that Chris Klieman has beefed up his offensive line to go with all-conference center Sam Hecht. However, it also noted that for the team to truly be one of the best, Avery Johnson needs to step up a lot more.
“With three starters gone up front, Klieman added four transfer linemen to pair with all-conference center Sam Hecht, and we’ll see if there are some glitches there. But if the blocking holds up — it usually does at K-State — and new offensive coordinator Matt Wells can coax a bit more consistency out of Johnson, this could be a top-10 offense,” the projection stated.
While his sophomore year was noted to be a bit underwhelming, Avery Johnson is projected to step up more this season and push the Wildcats to new heights.
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