Kansas State Thrilled With QB Avery Johnson's Evolution As A Passer
The West Virginia Mountaineers placed all of their focus on shutting down Kansas State's rushing attack on Saturday night.
The Mountaineers did so successfully, but Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson made them pay by delivering in the passing game. The dual-threat began the year relying heavily on his legs but is at a point now where he can execute without a single rush. Johnson recorded a total of 298 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia, all of which came through the air.
K-State coach Chris Klieman shared his thoughts on Johnson as a passer following the 45-18 victory.
"I thought he was just calm, really cool in the pocket," Klieman began. "I just thought critical situations on third down he found ways to keep plays alive."
It was a one possession game going into halftime, but the Wildcats broke it open with 14 points in each of the final quarters.
"The calmness, the kid's calm," Klieman said. "He's patient, and he understands things. He's not getting antsy in the pocket. He's staying in there, and it's fun to see, especially when we were struggling to rush the football."
Kansas State returns to action next Saturday against the Kansas Jayhawks (2-5).
MORE K-STATE NEWS
Avery Johnson Throws Shade At Colorado's Shedeur Sanders On Social Media
Kansas State Coach Chris Klieman Says Wildcats Finding Identity In Offensive Stud
Anthony Pasciolla is a contributing writer to K-State On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.
Follow our coverage on Facebook
X: @KStateOnSI
Anthony Pasciolla is a sports journalist who began covering the NBA in June 2023. A Philadelphia native, Anthony has experience covering the Philadelphia 76ers as a credentialed reporter. He has written for Miami Heat, Back In The Day Hoops, Kansas State Wildcats, and Illinois Fighting Illini on Sports Illustrated. His work also includes 76ers coverage for The Sporting News and previous stories for Athlon Sports and BasketballNews. When he’s not covering the NBA, you can find him spending time with friends and family or diving into the world of fantasy football. Follow him on X @AnthonyPasci or reach him via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com