Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson is gearing up for a pivotal 2025 season, focusing on leadership, physical conditioning, and building crucial connections with his teammates. As spring practice commences, Johnson, considered one of teh top Power 4 players who didn’t transfer, is steadfast to elevate his game and lead the Wildcats to success.Johnson emphasizes the importance of team camaraderie, stating, “It’s been a lot of fun, and I think it just starts with spending time with guys outside the facility.” He details his efforts to connect with newcomers and strengthen bonds with returning players through shared activities like lunches, basketball games, and even UFC fights. This approach, he believes, fosters a deeper level of understanding and trust, enabling them to “push them to the max” on the field.
physical readiness is also a major focus for Johnson. Currently weighing 200 pounds and clocking in at 23 miles per hour during March testing, he’s pushing himself to reach even greater speeds. “Why stop now?” he asks. “We have to keep dreaming and shooting for the start and working for that 24 mile per hour mark.” He credits the strength and nutrition staff for providing him with a tailored plan, drawing inspiration from players like Jacob Parrish, who considerably transformed his body. johnson is prioritizing nutrition and strength training to “sustain more hits this season and be harder to get down whenever I am outside the pocket and doing some quarterback runs.”
| Avery Johnson: Key Stats & Goals | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Weight | 200 lbs |
| Top Speed (March) | 23 mph |
| Speed Goal | 24 mph |
| Career Passing Efficiency Rank (K-State History) | 6th (137.2) |
| Touchdown Obligation Rank (K-State History) | Tied for 10th (44) |
Johnson’s past performance speaks volumes. He ranks among K-State’s all-time best in passing efficiency, passing yards per game, and passing touchdowns. Last season, he stood alongside Alabama’s Jalen Milroe as the only Power 4 players to surpass 2,500 passing yards and 525 rushing yards during the regular season. His extraordinary stats include 2,712 passing yards, a school-record 25 touchdowns, 605 rushing yards, and seven touchdowns.
Coach Chris Klieman highlights Johnson’s growing leadership role, stating, “(Johnson) has just got to infectious personality and that aura about him.He’s taken that on, and he’s taken it to the next level. he’s not afraid to hold people to the standard he expects.” Klieman emphasizes the importance of spring practice for Johnson to build a rapport with new linemen and wide receivers, preparing him to handle both successes and challenges.
New additions to the team, like wide receiver Jerand Bradley, are already impressed with Johnson. Bradley, who transferred from Boston College after stints at Texas Tech, recalls watching Johnson play and being amazed by his abilities. “Every time I see him, he’s doing something crazy on the field,” bradley said. “Man, I just love watching him play.”
Another newcomer, wide receiver Jaron Tibbs, was convinced to join K-State after spending time with Johnson during a visit. Tibbs, who canceled visits to Arkansas and USC, was drawn to the prospect to play alongside Johnson and receiver Jayce Brown. Tibbs envisions himself as a “deadly one-two punch” with Brown. Johnson is equally excited about these additions, noting, “(Bradley) has just come in and leads by example, him and Tibbs, always doing jugs or tennis balls, and left a good first impression as soon as they got here and just continue to watch them grow. I think they’re going to have a really good season.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Wells, who has a strong rapport with Johnson, aims to refine his quarterback’s technique and accuracy. Wells acknowledges Johnson’s existing achievements but also recognizes areas for advancement. “I’d tell you we have more to go.We have more to work on. He’ll be the first to tell you and I’ll be the first to tell you we look at things through a very, very critical eye. Whether it’s footwork, I think we have to get better at deep-ball accuracy, and some of that is footwork, and we’re in a deep dive and we’re still in the middle of dissecting every single incompletion and figuring out why.” Wells emphasizes his personal commitment to Johnson’s development, stating, “and every one of those incompletions are my incompletions, and that’s how personal I take it.”
With the season opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, on the horizon, Johnson remains focused on the present while keeping the ultimate goal in mind. “we all have Dublin in the back of our mind,” Johnson says. “Right now, we’re just focused on spring ball and then focused on fall camp following that, but ultimately, our first game against Iowa State is still in the back of our mind. That’s what we’re going to continue to work toward this offseason.” The Wildcats’ journey begins now, with Johnson at the helm, striving for excellence and building a cohesive team ready to compete at the highest level.
What specific areas of footwork is avery Johnson focusing on to improve his deep-ball accuracy?
Table of Contents
- 1. What specific areas of footwork is avery Johnson focusing on to improve his deep-ball accuracy?
- 2. Kansas State Wildcats QB Avery Johnson Talks Leadership and 2025 Season Goals
- 3. Building Team Camaraderie
- 4. Physical Conditioning and Goals
- 5. Leadership and New Additions
- 6. Improving Technique and Accuracy
- 7. The Season Opener in Dublin
- 8. Looking Ahead
Kansas State Wildcats QB Avery Johnson Talks Leadership and 2025 Season Goals
Archyde News: Welcome back to Archyde News! Today, we have a special guest, Avery Johnson, the kansas State Wildcats’ star quarterback. Avery, thanks for joining us.
Avery Johnson: Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.
Building Team Camaraderie
Archyde News: The team seems to be really focused on building solid connections. How has spending time outside of the facility helped with team morale and team cohesion?
Avery Johnson: It’s been a lot of fun, and I think that’s super critically importent as it starts with spending time with guys outside the facility. We do lunches, watch basketball games, even UFC fights. It’s all about creating those bonds.
Physical Conditioning and Goals
Archyde News: Obviously, physical conditioning is also a major focus. You’re currently at 200 pounds and hitting 23 mph. What are you focused on, and how critical is reaching your speed goal of 24 mph?
Avery Johnson: Absolutely vital. We’re pushing ourselves to the limit. We’re prioritizing nutrition and strength training to maintain impact and be as elusive as possible on quarterback runs. We want to sustain more hits this season. It’s all about continuous improvement.
Leadership and New Additions
Archyde News: Coach Klieman has spoken highly of your leadership. How are you embracing that role, especially with new players like Jerand Bradley and Jaron Tibbs joining the team?
Avery Johnson: It’s an honour. I’m glad to be a leader and I’m impressed by Jerand and Jaron. They’ve been amazing from day one. I am looking forward to seeing how the whole team will perform in the upcoming season.I feel confident we are going to have a very productive season.
Improving Technique and Accuracy
Archyde News: Offensive Coordinator Matt Wells is focused on refining your technique. What specific areas are you working on, and how do you see that improving your game?
Avery Johnson: We’re working on footwork and refining deep-ball accuracy. It’s about dissecting every single incompletion and figuring out how to better perfect my game. Any improvement would give me great optimism on making it to the top.
The Season Opener in Dublin
Archyde News: The season opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, is on the horizon. How are you balancing that long-term goal with the immediate focus of spring practice?
Avery Johnson: We all have Dublin in the back of our mind,but right now,it’s spring and then fall camp. The game against Iowa State is what we’re working to prepare for.
Looking Ahead
Archyde News: Avery,thank you for your time. Before we wrap up, how do you personally approach the upcoming season after the great performance last year?
Avery Johnson: we are just focused on the present, but we have a drive for excellence and are focused on building a cohesive team ready to compete. Our motto is to strive for excellence,and keep moving forward.
Archyde News: Amazing. Final question. With your current performance, and with the team’s new additions and coaches, what do you foresee in the coming season?
Avery Johnson: I foresee excellence. It will take some time and effort to implement, but it is going to be a great season. It’s up to us on how we will perform during the season. If you want to be great, you have to put in the hard work.
Archyde News: Thank you for the interview, Avery.To our audience, what do you think will be the Wildcats’ biggest challenge this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
