Familiarity helping Collin Klein guide Avery Johnson through spring
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson drops back to attempt a pass against Kansas Saturday October 25, 2025 at David Booth Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Wildcats are navigating through spring ball, and their new head coach is making sure that his star quarterback is soaking up the playbook like a sponge.
One of Collin Klein’s top priorities after he accepted the Kansas State job was to keep Avery Johnson with the program. After all, the signal-caller has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Big 12 over the past two seasons, with 43 touchdowns tosses, and 16 interceptions during that span.
However, Johnson didn’t show much improvement through a six-win campaign last year. Now that Klein is back at his alma mater, he’s trying to build up the signal-caller’s confidence. What helps the situation is Klein’s history with Johnson. Klein helped recruit Johnson, and was his Offensive Coordinator in 2023.
In Klein’s mind, the familiarity between the two will create a smooth transition, as the rest of the offense adjusts to a new system. Practices are grueling, so reps are beneficial, and Klein wants Johnson to take the offense by the helms.
“Not that every player has room to get better and improve in areas, but I think, initially, he (Johnson) will probably take the majority,” Klein said. “Then as we go through the spring, being able to develop the depth at that position will be important as well.”
Johnson is part of a deep quarterback room that features redshirt senior Jacob Knuth, sophomore Blake Barnett and redshirt freshman Dillon Duff. They all are pushing Johnson for playing time, but what he has over them is experience, leadership and chemistry with Klein.
One aspect of Johnson’s game that Klein is focusing on is his accuracy. Johnson ranked 90th in the FBS in completion percentage in 2025, and Kansas State’s aerial attack never had a pulse. The 21-year old has a couple of returning weapons in his arsenal that should be able to give him a boost in that department, including safety blanket tight end Garrett Oakley. Running back Joe Jackson will benefit the screen game after catching 22 passes out of the backfield.
Everything is going according to schedule as spring practice intensifies, and Klein needs Johnson to eliminate some of his old habits along the way. The Wildcats also have a new Offensive Coordinator in Sean Gleeson, but Klein will mainly be calling the plays. With the way Klein loves to use tempo, and zone reads, communication is going to be vital with Johnson when processing plays before the snap.
“I think it’s come back to him pretty quickly, but, just like anything – and more important than any other position – is just thinking exactly the same way as play caller to quarterback and making sure that gray is not a good thing in that relationship,” he said. “So, he’s been very great, and detailed and thorough of not trying to take for granted anything.”
Johnson has tremendous upside because of his breathtaking mobility, and the more he develops his arm, the higher the ceiling can be for Kansas State’s offense. Klein’s offense averaged 444.5 yards per game at Texas A&M last season, which was one of the SEC’s best units. Not to mention quarterback Marcel Reed tied for 18th nationally in touchdown tosses, and ranked 22nd in total offense. Klein has ambitions of replicating that success with Johnson this fall.
Which is why it’s all work and no play right now, and once the smoke clears, Klein is confident that Johnson will know the offense like the back of his hand.
“I think that he and all of us are very used to working with each other, and he’s used to working with the guys around him to make sure that we know very much who he is as a player.”
