Well, expectations for Avery Johnson aren’t dimming anytime soon, and Kansas State’s new quarterbacks coach, Christian Ellsworth, didn’t shy away from putting together a big-time statement about his QB1.
Ellsworth kept it simple, saying, “I think he’s the best in the country.”
That’ll get the excitement going for the folks in Manhattan.
Ellsworth continued by saying, “There’s a lot of work to continue to prove that, but, you know, we got all the pieces aligned to be able to get that done.”
Johnson, a senior signal-caller for the Wildcats, has had an up-and-down career. His impressive stock coming out of high school destined him for a massive ceiling, but after three offensive coordinator changes in three seasons, he hasn’t quite hit his stride.
Still, he’s been impressive under center, throwing for 5,576 yards in his career with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 48-16. Pretty solid throwing numbers, but Johnson’s ability is more than just slinging the rock. He’s one of the most talented dual-threat playmakers in the country and has recorded more than 1,300 yards and 22 scores on the ground over his first three seasons.
With Collin Klein returning to Kansas State, this time as head coach, Johnson has something he hasn’t had from a play-calling standpoint in a long time, and that’s familiarity. Before Klein departed for Texas A&M, Johnson spent his true freshman season under his new head coach, and he dazzled even in a limited role.
After a sloppy 6-6 campaign in 2025, Kansas State is looking to get back to its model of consistency that the program’s been known for, but with a first-year head coach, there’s always a gamble. It may only be February, but if comments like that of Ellsworth’s start making the rounds, Wildcat fans everywhere will be chomping at the bit for fall to get here as soon as possible.
