K-State Q&A: Avery Johnson, Dylan Edwards and what comes next for the Wildcats
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chris Klieman's teams have averaged nine wins despite early-season losses.
- K-State converts 56% of fourth downs since 2022, but execution must improve.
- Avery Johnson targets 3,000 passing yards; Dylan Edwards' health remains key.
It’s time for another K-State Q&A.
There are loads of topics to cover now that the Wildcats have made it home from Dublin and football season is underway.
So rather than start off this week’s mailbag with a lengthy introduction, let’s just dive into your questions. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
Some K-State football fans are acting like the season is already over, but I’m trying to stay optimistic about the Wildcats. Please give me a few reasons why K-State can still have a good year. - Andrew B. via e-mail.
The season is absolutely not over for Kansas State.
One thing some pessimistic fans have probably forgotten is that Chris Klieman has never started a season 4-0 in Manhattan. Losing a game early in the year is commonplace for EMAW nation. But that hasn’t stopped the Wildcats from averaging nine wins in non-pandemic seasons during the Klieman era.
Was the season over when K-State lost to Tulane in 2022? The Wildcats beat Oklahoma the next week and won a Big 12 championship.
Was the season over when K-State lost to Missouri in 2023? The Wildcats went to the Pop-Tarts Bowl and won nine games.
Was the season over when K-State got stomped at BYU in 2024? The Wildcats rallied to win nine games again.
No, the season is not over just because K-State lost to Iowa State. But the margin for error is now razor thin if the Wildcats want to compete for a Big 12 championship. They can likely only afford one more loss in league play. That won’t be easy to do. But it’s far from impossible. It’s also worth noting that K-State never beats Iowa State. Maybe getting that loss out of the way early will be a good thing.
The Wildcats are behind the eight ball after one game. That’s not good. Their odds of winning the Big 12 have dropped from 6-to-1 to 10-to-1. That’s not great, either. But if the Wildcats can win their next three games against North Dakota, Army and Arizona they will be 3-1 just like always.
What are Chris Klieman’s stats at Kansas State for 4th down conversions/attempts? -@BusMedicMike via X.
Here are Kansas State’s numbers on fourth downs over the past three seasons, plus the Iowa State game last week:
- 2025 - 1 of 4 (25%)
- 2024 - 15 of 26 (58%)
- 2023 - 14 of 24 (58%)
- 2022 - 17 of 30 (57%)
Over that time span, the Wildcats have gone 47-of-84 on fourth down for a conversion rate of 56%.
K-State fans would obviously like those numbers to be higher. But they are decent as is. Not all turnovers on downs are created equal, by the way. It’s horrible if you get stuffed on fourth-and-inches or the coach recklessly tries to convert on fourth-and-long from his own territory. But there’s not much downside to screwing up when it’s fourth-and-6 from the opponent’s 35.
Overall, I am in favor of Klieman’s aggressive nature on fourth downs. The days of automatically punting on fourth down are dead and gone. You want a coach who is willing to go for it in most situations. I had no problem with any of Klieman’s gambles against Iowa State. But the results weren’t good.
In other words, the execution needs to improve. Not the game plan.
The solution is not to punt. K-State simply needs to figure out how to move the chains on fourth-and-short. Joe Jackson and Avery Johnson both got stuffed last week. Changing that in future games is a top priority for offensive coordinator Matt Wells moving forward.
Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the short-yardage offense? -@mrtroyh via X.
Copy the Philadelphia Eagles.
They have more or less perfected the art of gaining two yards with a QB sneak. I understand why Chris Klieman may not want to ask Avery Johnson to line up under center and be in the middle of a scrum five times every week. But why not practice that play with a backup quarterback or a tight end?
That way, K-State could bring in the designated QB sneaker when he is needed for one play and then Johnson could return to the huddle for the next snap.
Every team should have personnel ready to run a QB sneak. But college coaches seem to want to try other things.
Will we utilize a power package or even just a FB for short yardage scenarios? -@WadeGassmann via X.
The Wildcats were smart enough to use DJ Giddens instead of Deuce Vaughn on short-yardage runs when they won the Big 12 in 2022. It wouldn’t shock me if they lean on a power back in those situations at some point again this year.
Antonio Martin (5-foot-9 and 225 pounds) would be the best option at running back. Garrett Oakley (6-foot-5 and 248 pounds) could also do it as a tight end.
I am also in favor of having a designated big man ready to carry the ball at any given moment.
One game down. What do you predict Avery Johnson’s stats will be at the end of the year? And will K-State have a 1,000-yard rusher or a 1,000-yard receiver? -@GuitarCatsChief via X.
I am sticking by my prediction that Avery Johnson will become just the third K-State quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season.
He passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State. That’s a great start toward that number. He may also be able to top his touchdowns record from last season. His deep ball was on the money against the Cyclones, and he would have had a bigger day if not for drops from his wide receivers.
Jayce Brown seems like a logical pick to flirt with 1,000 receiving yards. I think he makes it there. But it will be close.
Before the season, I would have predicted Dylan Edwards to easily reach 1,000 yards. Now? I don’t know. If he misses the first three games of the year, he will need to average 100 rushing yards in the final nine games of the regular season and then do it again at a bowl to get there. Right now, my guess is it doesn’t happen.
Which is more likely for Avery Johnson at the end of this season - (A) Leaves for the NFL. (B) Transfers for more NIL. (C) K-State bumps his NIL and he stays as a senior. (D) None of the above is a concern. -@LarryVW57 via X.
If Avery Johnson has a terrific season for the Wildcats, just about any of those possibilities could be realistic.
I don’t think Johnson would transfer for more NIL money. K-State is already paying him handsomely, and he has an endorsement deal with every store in town. But he could follow the Will Howard path and try to win a national championship at a different school. Or he could stay put. Or he could leave early for the NFL.
My advice is not to worry about what might happen next season. Enjoy him while he is QB1 at K-State.
Given that he was hurt on the first punt of the season, should Kansas State reconsider using Dylan Edwards as a punt returner in the future? -@garrett_b_1983 via X.
Maybe.
You raise a good point. If Edwards wasn’t on special teams, he would have started at running back for the Wildcats and potentially stayed healthy. That is the best argument for letting someone like Sterling Lockett handle return duties. He isn’t a breadwinner on offense. Might as well let him help the team as a return man.
Counterpoint: What if Edwards is by far the best return man on the team? We have all seen him run. Taking him off the field could eliminate the possibility of big plays on special teams.
Injuries also happen in every phase of the game. You can’t hide anyone from contact.
Sadly, I don’t have a hot take on this topic.
Even if the fumble still happens, how much different does the offense look if Dylan remained in the game and healthy? -@PowercatRyan via X.
In the words of offensive coordinator Matt Wells, K-State running back Dylan Edwards was “a big part of the game plan.” So to lose him without warning after one snap could not have been easy. The offense would have looked better with him in there.
How much better?
Best-case scenario: A healthy Edwards runs wild on the Iowa State defense and K-State wins the game.
Alas, the Wildcats couldn’t beat the Cyclones with DJ Giddens and Edwards last season. Maybe it wouldn’t have changed much. There’s a reason Iowa State has owned this rivalry of late.
Hopefully the result of the game didn’t ruin your time in Dublin. What were the highlights of your trip? - Emily W. via e-mail.
The top three things I did outside of the game in Ireland were visiting the Guinness Storehouse, walking the cliffs of Howth and watching Riverdance from an old theater with my wife.
But the entire trip was a good time. Even simple stuff like walking around Dublin and drinking a pint at a random pub were fun.
Is there a name the Big 12 would embrace instead of Farmageddon? I can’t think of any. But what would you change the name to? -@ChadFullington via X.
For basketball: The Coliseum Clash. What are the odds that both teams play in a building that has been dubbed a coliseum?
For football: The Wacky Weather War. I have been covering this rivalry for nearly two decades, and I’ve seen it all — snow, rain, heat and bitter cold. Let’s hope they play in a dome at some point.
For an overall catchy name: The Dillon’s Battle by the Barn brought to you by Hy-Vee.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "K-State Q&A: Avery Johnson, Dylan Edwards and what comes next for the Wildcats."