Avery Johnson’s loyalty to K-State rare among top QBs from 2023 recruiting class
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- Only four of the top-25 quarterbacks from the 2023 class remain at their original schools.
- Avery Johnson has started 27 games for Kansas State and is nearing program records.
- Top-25 quarterbacks from 2023 have averaged 2.36 college teams apiece through 2026.
When Avery Johnson committed to Kansas State, it felt commonplace for quarterbacks to start and end their college football careers at the same school.
That’s not to say there was no such thing as quarterback transfers. Passers switched teams every season for a wide variety of reasons. But many of them found a school they liked and stayed there until Senior Day.
Such an occurrence feels rare just four years later.
How rare?
A look back at the 2023 recruiting class, which featured Johnson as a four-star recruit out of Maize, provides the answer — exceedingly.
Only four of the top-25 quarterbacks from the 2023 recruiting class are still playing for the original college team they signed with. Johnson, who has already started 27 games and set school records for the Wildcats, is among them. The other three: Arch Manning (Texas), Christopher Vizzina (Clemson) and Marcel Reed (Texas A&M).
LaNorris Sellers has notably been at South Carolina for four seasons, but he was rated No. 34 in the 247Sports composite rankings in 2023.
Ten of the top quarterbacks from that recruiting class are at their second school. Nine of them are at their third school. And two are about to suit up for their fourth team in four seasons.
Malachi Nelson has gone from USC to Boise State to UTEP to Syracuse. Jaden Rashada has been with Arizona State, Georgia, Sacramento State and Mississippi State.
On average, the top-25 quarterbacks from 2023 have played for 2.36 college teams. It has become more likely for a college QB to transfer twice than not at all.
Johnson seemed to have a grasp on those numbers when he decided to remain loyal to the Wildcats as a senior rather than chase money or other opportunities in the portal.
The era of revenue sharing and NIL money has boosted QB transfers across the country, but Johnson wanted to buck the trend.
“It was just super important to me,” Johnson said earlier this spring. “With how college football is nowadays, people are quick to leave. They could have personal reasons, maybe it’s money, maybe it’s playing time, whatever it might be. It’s a testament to my brothers in here, and really wanting to build something and be a part of something.
“I really wanted to be able to leave a legacy here and do things, just to show the type of person I am. It’s going to mean a lot to be able to get my degree from K-State in the fall, graduate from here and be a four-year guy here. With how the landscape of college football is nowadays, I think that says a lot.”
K-State made Johnson feel at home from the beginning.
He saw ample playing time as a freshman and finished out that season with an MVP performance at the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Johnson has started every game since. His career passing numbers (458 of 779 for 5,576 yards and 48 touchdowns) are approaching the top of the program record books. His rushing stats (1,378 yards and 22 touchdowns) have also been impressive.
Now that Collin Klein has returned to K-State as the team’s head football coach, Johnson will have an opportunity to go out with a bang and finish his college career with the same person who recruited him more than four years ago.
“He’s been special to me since he was a sophomore in high school,” Klein said. “And that’s a long time.”
K-State fans should enjoy Johnson while he is on campus, because it could be a while before the Wildcats land another high school quarterback who proves to be this loyal to Manhattan.
Or maybe they should hope for five years from Johnson.
If the NCAA passes new eligibility rules that allow student-athletes to play five seasons instead of four, he could end up spending more time with one team than any other quarterback in his recruiting class.
This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Avery Johnson’s loyalty to K-State rare among top QBs from 2023 recruiting class."