Kansas State’s Avery Johnson named one of college football’s top new starting QBs

The rest of the country might be catching on to what Kansas State and its fans have known since Avery Johnson signed with the Wildcats — he might have the stuff to become one of the nation’s very best quarterbacks.

Bleacher Report recently put Johnson on its list of the best new starting quarterbacks at elite college football programs, with former Kansas State starter and current Ohio State quarterback Will Howard also  making the list.

From Bleacher Report: “Avery Johnson earned a top-100 rating in the 2023 class and opened the Pop-Tarts Bowl for Kansas State. Johnson is another exciting dual-threat talent and offers a little more experience since K-State routinely used him in a package role as a freshman. Johnson has much to prove as a high-volume passer, but the program is understandably thrilled about his playmaking ability.”

Johnson made two starts as a treu freshman in 2023 but one of those came in a two-uarterback set alongside Howard — he finished the season with 479 passing yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 296 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Kansas State opens the season on Aug. 31 at home against Tennessee-Martin.