K-State QB Avery Johnson is passing more and running less. Does that need to change?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State quarterback Avery Johnson has shifted to a pass-first approach in 2025.
- Johnson averages fewer designed runs as blocking issues hurt offensive output.
- Coaches consider offensive adjustments to revive Johnson's rushing game.
Of all the complaints that Kansas State football fans have expressed this season (and there have been many), the most persistent gripe has revolved around Avery Johnson.
Not so much because EMAW nation has lost confidence in the junior quarterback after a disappointing 1-3 start, but because they think he isn’t properly utilizing his biggest strength — speed.
K-State supporters were over the moon when Johnson ran for 90 yards and five touchdowns out of the wildcat formation as a freshman during a 38-21 road victory over Texas Tech. But that isn’t happening anymore. Fast forward to this season, and he has rushed for a grand total of 62 yards and two touchdowns over the course of four games.
What gives?
That is a question that K-State football coach Chris Klieman, offensive coordinator Matt Wells and Johnson himself have all tried to answer this year as the Wildcats have morphed into a pass-first team with 851 yards and six touchdowns from their starting QB.
Klieman says he is hesitant to run Johnson early in the season because he wants him healthy for the long haul. Johnson admits he could improve as a scrambler, but he thinks defenses have been selling out to stop designed QB runs all year.
Fair responses, to be sure, but they have done little to appease a disgruntled fan base.
Johnson is one of the fastest players on the K-State football roster and one of the quickest quarterbacks in college football. So why isn’t he making more plays with his feet? And what can be done to unlock that part of his game moving forward?
Johnson has not been an effective runner in 2025
The answer is more complex than simply calling more run plays for Johnson.
K-State is averaging 6.25 quarterback runs per game this season, which is down from the 7.85 carries that Johnson averaged in his first two seasons. But much of that can be explained by a weird game against Army in which the K-State offense was barely on the field.
Johnson attempted eight runs against Iowa State and seven apiece against Iowa State and Arizona.
Problem is, few of those runs led to explosive plays. Johnson broke free for at least one 20-yard run in eight different games as an underclassman. This year, he only has one such run — a 25-yard scramble against North Dakota.
Opposing defenses have stuffed or sacked him nine times this year. Only four of his 25 attempts have gone for 10 or more yards. On one of the few occasions that K-State ran him on a simple QB keeper, he was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 against Iowa State. He also finished the Arizona loss with negative rushing yardage.
It seems like the quality of Johnson’s runs have diminished, not the quantity.
Looking back at Johnson’s breakout game at Texas Tech
While it’s true that Johnson showed his potential two years ago against the Red Raiders, it is hard to expect another game like that.
Johnson was the backup quarterback behind Will Howard that day. He ran with reckless abandon, and Texas Tech had no idea that it was coming. The Wildcats had the element of surprise on their side. Not so much now.
Furthermore, K-State has changed offensive coordinators twice since then.
K-State also benefited from tremendous blocking that season. On one of Johnson’s touchdown runs against Texas Tech, he jogged behind tight end Ben Sinnott as he flattened two would-be tacklers on his way into the end zone. On another, offensive lineman Cooper Beebe cleared a huge running lane for Johnson to sprint through.
Beebe and Sinnott are now in the NFL.
K-State’s blocking is not the same without them.
“I feel bad for (Johnson), because I think he’s playing well enough for us to win,” Klieman said. “But he’s not getting the time.”
The Wildcats have been stuffed for no gain or a loss 22 times on 98 attempts this season, and their running attack is only producing 108 yards per game. K-State has struggled to run between the tackles, period. They can’t seem to get Dylan Edwards (when healthy), Joe Jackson or DeVon Rice going either.
Oddly, the only person on the team with impressive rushing stats is wide receiver Jayce Brown. He has 104 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
K-State ranks last in the Big 12 in total rushing yards, trailing six teams that have only played three games. The Wildcats appear to have many problems when it comes to running the ball. But Johnson has found success as a passer, which could explain why he is throwing more often than he runs.
Johnson could be more aggressive as a scrambler
There have been a handful of times this season when Johnson appeared to have room to run on the perimeter as he exited the pocket and looked downfield on broken passing plays.
But he has been hesitant to take off in those situations, perhaps trusting his arm more than his legs.
Big 12 defensive backs know Johnson is a threat to run, so he rarely sees the field completely open up for him. But maybe he could try to make some defenders miss in space?
“I have got to be better as a scrambler to make teams be able to defend that,” Johnson said. “It just opens up a whole bunch of different things for the offense.”
What changes can be made by K-State moving forward?
The offense will almost certainly look different when K-State hosts UCF at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Klieman asked both of his coordinators to remain in Manhattan for the entirety of the team’s bye week so he could discuss strategy and formations with them at any time of day.
Maybe it is time for K-State to get more tight ends on the field and let Johnson run on power plays. A change in personnel or approach might open things up. Who knows? Perhaps the Wildcats will throw it even more this week.
The Wildcats have much to improve on as they work to turn their season around. All options appear to be on the table as they look to get more out of Johnson.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM with the headline "K-State QB Avery Johnson is passing more and running less. Does that need to change?."