Everyone in Manhattan knew it was coming. When Will Howard packed his bags for Columbus, the keys to the kingdom didn't just fall into Avery Johnson’s lap—they were practically forged for him.
The 2024 season wasn't just another year of K-State football; it was the start of the "Long Hair, Don't Care" era. If you spent any time near Bill Snyder Family Stadium last fall, you saw the No. 2 jerseys everywhere. You saw the lavender Corvette. You definitely saw the hair flowing out of the back of the helmet.
But honestly, looking back at the k state quarterback 2024 campaign, the narrative that he’d just waltz in and break every record is only half true. He did break records. He also hit some walls that people tend to gloss over when they're talking about his "Heisman-level" potential.
The Statistical Reality of Avery Johnson’s 2024
Let’s get the numbers out of the way. They’re impressive, but they tell a story of a young guy figuring out the speed of the Big 12.
Avery finished the 2024 season with 2,712 passing yards and a school-record 25 passing touchdowns. He added another 605 yards and seven scores on the ground. On paper? That’s an elite sophomore year. He led the team to a 9-4 record and a gutsy comeback win in the Rate Bowl against Rutgers.
But it wasn't always smooth.
The 10 interceptions he threw were real "growth moment" mistakes. There were games where he looked like the fastest person on the planet—clocking in at 23 mph in practice—and then there were games where he looked like a kid trying to do way too much. It happens. You’ve got a guy who is a legit dual-threat, so sometimes he’d try to force a throw when he should have just tucked it and run.
Why the 2024 Stats Don't Tell the Whole Story
He wasn't just playing quarterback. He was the face of the program.
- The Record Breaker: He smashed the single-season passing TD record at K-State.
- The Ground Threat: 5.4 yards per carry is no joke for a QB.
- Efficiency: A 58.3% completion rate is where the "room for improvement" lives.
What Really Happened With the Offense?
The 2024 offense was weirdly explosive and frustrating at the same time. Kansas State actually set a school record for yards per play (6.57) and rushing yards per carry (6.08). Those are massive numbers.
So why did it feel like they left meat on the bone?
Basically, it came down to turnovers and playing catch-up. Because Avery is so dangerous with his legs, defenses started playing these "spy" schemes that dared him to win from the pocket. In the Arizona and Oklahoma State games, he rose to the occasion. He was a Manning Award Star of the Week for a reason. But against teams like Houston or Iowa State late in the year, the consistency just wasn't quite there yet.
He was working with a lot of new pieces, too. DJ Giddens was a workhorse, but the receiving corps was often described as "underwhelming" by the players themselves. It’s why Johnson spent so much of the recent offseason acting like a general manager, personally recruiting guys like Dylan Edwards and Jaron Tibbs to fill the gaps.
The "Golden Boy" Burden
You can't talk about the k state quarterback 2024 situation without mentioning the hype.
Avery is a local kid from Maize, Kansas. He stayed home. In the age of the transfer portal, that makes him a folk hero. He’s got an NIL valuation around $1.6 million, which is third-best in the Big 12. He’s got his own strawberry lemonade soft drink with Bevhub. He's partnering with CVS and local fiber companies.
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That’s a lot for a 20-year-old.
Coach Chris Klieman (before his retirement at the end of 2025) often talked about how Avery handled it. He didn't hide from it. He drove the lavender car. He signed the autographs. But he also bulked up, adding 10 pounds of muscle to get to 200 lbs because he knew he was taking too many hits in 2024.
Looking Back to Look Forward
The 2024 season was the bridge. It was the year K-State transitioned from the "system-QB" era of Will Howard and Skylar Thompson to the "superstar-athlete" era of Avery Johnson.
It wasn't a perfect season. The loss to Iowa State to end the regular season stung. The three losses in the final four games showed that the team—and their quarterback—could be rattled if the run game was neutralized.
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However, the foundation was laid. If you want to understand why there’s so much buzz about K-State entering the 2026 season under new head coach Collin Klein and OC Sean Gleeson, you have to look at 2024. That was the year Avery Johnson proved his floor was high, and his ceiling was... well, we haven't seen it yet.
Key Takeaways for the K-State Faithful
- Avery is the real deal, but he needs better protection and more explosive targets to cut down on those 10 interceptions.
- The rushing attack is legendary. Even with a young QB, the Wildcats averaged over 6 yards a carry. That’s a testament to the O-line and Avery’s gravity as a runner.
- Leadership is the next step. Johnson has already started taking more ownership of the roster, which is rare for a sophomore.
If you're tracking his progress, watch his footwork in the pocket this coming season. That was the one area where 2024 film showed he struggled—drifting into pressure instead of stepping up. If he cleans that up, the Big 12 is in serious trouble.
Go watch the highlights of the 2024 Oklahoma State game again. That's the version of Avery Johnson that K-State needs every week. The dime-dropping, Dion-Sanders-dancing, defense-shredding kid who just looks like he's having more fun than anyone else on the field.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Analyze the 2025 Roster: Check out the recent additions in the transfer portal to see if the "explosive" receivers Avery requested actually arrived.
- Watch the 2024 Rate Bowl Film: It's the best evidence of how Avery performs under pressure when the game is on the line.
- Track the New Coaching Dynamics: Keep an eye on how Collin Klein’s promotion to head coach changes the offensive play-calling for Avery in the upcoming season.