The quarterback position is the most important not just in the game of football but maybe in all of sports. They get the most criticism, and it seems like the game always falls on their shoulders, whether things go right or wrong.
That’s why when ESPN’s Bill Connelly released his 40 most important college football players list, it featured four Big 12 starting quarterbacks. Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), and Josh Hoover (TCU) were the guys to make the cut.
As important as these quarterbacks all are, there’s a reason why Avery Johnson was listed ahead of everyone else. No offense to TCU or Baylor, but I wouldn’t exactly pencil in either one of them to make the Big 12 title game this season, even when their quarterbacks are playing well.
Arizona State is different because they are the favorite to win the conference once again, and that definitely will depend on Sam Leavitt’s performance this season after losing a workhorse in Cam Skattebo.
But if there is one quarterback on that list that has yet to really put it all together, it’s Avery Johnson. He’s a guy who came in with a ton of hype, and he hit the ground running when he got an opportunity back in 2023. I think everyone remembers that game where he ran for five touchdowns against Texas Tech.
Plus, we saw some great moments in his first career start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl two years ago in a win over NC State. That’s why many of us (including myself) were expecting big things from Avery Johnson in 2024.
However, things didn’t exactly go smoothly all the time. He started last season on a roll before that disastrous game in Provo, where Kansas State got boat-raced 38-9. Then, a few weeks later, he struggled against a bad Houston team on the road and ended up falling flat against Arizona State the following week.
When you look at the numbers from last season, they weren’t bad at all for a young quarterback like Johnson. He tossed 25 touchdowns and threw 10 interceptions. And of course, he is capable of taking off himself, and that is why he ran for over 600 yards in 2024. If there was one stat to nitpick, it would be his completion percentage, which was 58.3%.
People forget that 2024 was Avery’s first season as a starter. 60% of his interceptions from the three games (all of which they lost). While he had a few rough moments, he also had many bright spots along the way.
There’s a reason why Avery was a top 100 player coming in. It’s because he has all the tools to succeed as a college quarterback. He’s got the arm, and his athleticism is off the charts.
Kansas State’s season rides on the development of Avery Johnson. If he improves from last year, then I have no doubt that the Wildcats will find their way to Arlington and play for a Big 12 title. The pieces are in place, and the schedule sets up extremely well.
Last season, we saw flashes of how good Avery Johnson can be. But that’s the problem, they are just flashes. Once he can figure out how to put it all together, forget about being the Big 12 player of the year; he will end up in New York City for the Heisman ceremony. And his journey starts on August 23rd in Ireland, taking on Iowa State.
