K-State's Avery Johnson, in a class of his own.

Photo Credit - Kansas State Football

I recently dropped a Top 25 quarterbacks in college football list entering the 2026 season that featured a vast amount of QBs who have been on our radar since their high school days and have maintained solid play on the football field.

The list spread like wildfire, and an unlikely response came from a source that I will not name. That response put me on a direct FaceTime call with Jakobi Lane, who was preparing for the NFL Combine, and 6’3, 200-pound dual-threat QB Avery Johnson from Maize High School in Maize, Kansas. A name I did not cover.

I briefly explained the dynamics of how I create my list to the NFL prospects and agreed to interview Johnson at a separate time.

Avery Johnson was recruited by Chris Klieman as a sophomore in high school. Oregon Ducks football and Washington Huskies football were his other top schools before committing to the Wildcats at Kansas State Wildcats football.

Johnson’s reason for choosing Kansas State:

K-State was close to home. The coaches were open and honest about everything. I had the opportunity to play early.

He played in eight games as a freshman and started in the bowl game as a freshman. The QB has now started 26 games for K-State.

His first start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and the game vs. Colorado Buffaloes football his sophomore year have been the games that propelled him into the national spotlight.

Johnson does not compare his playstyle to any QB but loves to watch great quarterback play. He is a Patrick Mahomes fan and watches Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as much as he can during the season. The star QB says it is hard to watch the NFL during the CFB season.

Coaching Changes

Head coach Chris Klieman resigned, and former K-State OC Collin Klein has returned after working at Texas A&M Aggies football.

In his last year, Johnson is excited about the new hires and coaching staff. He is excited to play in that offense again and felt he had his best year offensively in that system.

He is working with Kansas City QB trainer Justin Hoover. They are working on his release and his stance in the pocket to sharpen his skill set for his senior campaign.

NIL Deals

Johnson reported that he has done deals with Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a credit union partnership, Tops, Factor Meals, and CVS Pharmacy.

Expect a highly productive season for Johnson, playing in a system that he already knows. Expect him to be amongst the top of his class as it pertains to draft stock.