As Kansas State tries to rebound from its rollercoaster 2025 season, there's one name coach Collin Klein is circling with a big red marker: quarterback Avery Johnson. He's the Wildcats' X-factor once again, the primary factor between them being a borderline bowl team and a conference contender.
Klein says that he's excited to be back on the sidelines working with Johnson in his final season.
"I think Avery is an elite competitor," Klein said in his Big 12 Today interview. "I think that made us click pretty much right off the bat. His passion for the game and his football IQ probably don’t get the credit he deserves, just because he is so talented."
Johnson had a rough junior year, dipping in nearly every statistical category. His inability to elevate his passing game and get going on the run pretty much hampered any chance for him to rise as a signal-caller.
Luckily, he'll have the man who ushered him into the program calling his plays again. Klein's scheme will likely implement more rushing, allowing Johnson to unleash his dual-threat play style and thrive in the play-action.
"I think being able to come in and have a foundation to work from, so he’s not learning from complete scratch," Klein said. "We’re able to build off of a large part of the foundation that was here before. I think it gives us a chance for a good head start. I’m really excited about our ability to package things for him, get on the same page, and think the same way. Then allow him to cut it loose, play fast, and use that competitive nature. I've watched him from a distance the last couple of years. I'm proud of how he’s handled things, and I'm really excited to be back on the same sideline."
Both Johnson and Klein have ambitions to get back to conference championship contention in 2026.
"There is unfinished business here, and I'm not done yet," Johnson said in his social media return statement. "This place, this program, and this fanbase mean everything to me. The relationships I've built, the culture we've created, and the goals we still have ahead of us are too important to walk away from. I believe in this team. I believe in our coaches. And I believe the best is still ahead."
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