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LAS VEGAS — Kansas State absolutely, positively did not need to make a quarterback change.
Incumbent Will Howard was one of the most accomplished players in program history, leading the Wildcats to their first outright Big 12 title in almost 20 years. After entering the portal, Howard landed at Ohio State, a program that has put three of its last four quarterbacks into the first round of the NFL Draft.
Moving on from a sure thing was a tremendous risk, but that’s how much Kansas State believes in sophomore Avery Johnson, the newest star quarterback in the Big 12 who took Media Days by storm.
“We saw enough last year for us to know that he was going to be the guy longterm for us,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “He was ready for that moment. I told him when I recruited him, I knew he was going to be the face of the program.”
Klieman isn’t one for hyperbole, but his confidence in Johnson radiated as he addressed the media. Only a year after landing in Manhattan, Kansas, as the program’s highest-ranked quarterback recruit since Josh Freeman, Johnson and his flowing locks have taken the responsibility seriously.
The Pop Tarts Bowl against NC State’s strong defense was a coming out party. Johnson posted 178 yards passing, 71 yards rushing and three touchdowns to win MVP honors in his first career start. The video of Johnson taking the initial nervous bites of the edible Pop Tarts mascot went viral across the internet.
“You go back to the bowl game, you see what he can do,” offensive lineman Hadley Panzer told CBS Sports. “We’ve known all along that he can run the ball, but I think this year people will see that he can throw the ball as well.”
Johnson is far from just a slew of viral moments. He’s the kind of…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/why-kansas-state-is-all-in-with-face-of-the-program-avery-johnson-as-wildcats-hunt-big-12-cfp-glory/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2024-07-10 14:58:41
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