I’ve had enough. Kansas State needs to start using Avery Johnson the way you’re supposed to use Avery Johnson. Right now, he’s being asked to sit in the pocket and look like a traditional passer, but that’s only half of what makes him special. The other half — his legs — aren’t being used nearly enough, and it’s killing the offense.
This isn’t about him being bad. Far from it. Johnson is throwing the ball well, protecting the football, and even putting up career highs through the air. But when you cut his rushing attempts down to seven carries in a game like North Dakota — with more than half his yards coming on one late scramble — you’re not unlocking what makes him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the country.
Playing Scared Isn’t an Option
Chris Klieman and the staff look timid. Maybe it’s the Dylan Edwards injury and fear of losing both star playmakers. Maybe it’s a lack of trust in the QB2 behind Johnson. Either way, you can’t run an offense in fear. Avery got banged up last year, sure. But you don’t win games — or live up to your ceiling — by bubble-wrapping your best weapon.
You don’t get to call him a Heisman dark horse and then keep him handcuffed.
The Proof Is in the Numbers
Ryan Wallace of KC Sports Network dropped a stat that should end this debate. Lamar Jackson averaged nearly 18 rushes per game at Louisville. Jayden Daniels? Over 11 per game at LSU. Both had similar builds to Johnson, and neither was derailed by injuries.
Avery Johnson? Just 7.9 carries per game across his career. That’s not enough. Johnson belongs in that 12–15 carry range every single Saturday. That’s when defenses start guessing, the offensive line gets more breathing room, and the whole playbook opens up.
Unlock the Offense
We’ve seen flashes. That 25-yard run to save the day against North Dakota. The career-high 318 yards passing in the same game. Imagine what happens when defenses also have to load the box to respect Johnson as a runner. Suddenly Joe Jackson, Jace Brown, Jared Tibbs, and the rest of this receiver corps are streaking wide open off play action. That’s the formula to get back into the Heisman conversation and to keep Kansas State’s Big 12 dreams alive.
Army Is Next — And So Is the Test
The matchup with Army is about more than just Avery Johnson. The Wildcats’ linebackers have to step up against the triple option. Giving up first downs on 3rd and 22, 2nd and 21, and 4th and 6 last week to an FCS team? That won’t cut it. Austin Romaine and the linebacking corps need discipline, containment, and toughness. If they don’t, Army will drag this game into the mud.
But the bigger picture doesn’t change: Johnson has to run. Whether it’s designed QB power, read-option, or bootleg play action, he needs the ball in his hands with the freedom to take off. Every extra carry puts pressure on defenses, makes the offense less predictable, and shows the college football world that Avery Johnson is more than just a stat sheet passer.
Kansas State has the quarterback. They just need to let him be who he is.
