Kansas

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson embraces leadership role at a young age

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2024

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson embraces leadership role at a young age

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman knew from the moment he started recruiting Avery Johnson, that there was something about him, a certain presence that you want in a quarterback.

“He had an it factor,” Klieman said of Johnson, who indeed will be the Wildcats’ starting quarterback this season as a sophomore. “You can tell the guys that have it factors, and the confidence but not arrogance.”

From the time he arrived in Manhattan last year as a true freshman after a standout career at Maize High School, Johnson has done nothing to dispel that notion. His athleticism — particularly his speed, agility and arm strength — all were on display at various times last year when he served as Will Howard’s backup.

Johnson’s finest hours came in 2023 came during a game at Texas Tech, where he ran for five touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory, and then as most valuable player as starting quarterback in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after Howard entered the transfer portal.

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson is ready to lead the Wildcats’ offense

But what has stood out about Johnson perhaps as much as his physical tools, is his ability to command the respect of teammates as well as coaches at such a tender age.

“For a young, young player, he has been a great leader, as well as learning from some of these older guys that are here with him,” Klieman said.

Establishing himself as a leader has been a priority for Johnson ever since he learned that he would start the bowl game. It carried over to the spring and now through player-led summer workouts.

“Just trying to be more vocal and get in front of the guys whenever I get the chance and just continue to lead by example, and just doing my best to gain everybody’s trust,” Johnson said. “I feel like the biggest thing is whenever adversity strikes, whether that’s in the weight room or struggling in the warmup or practice, a run, whatever it might be, just get in front of the team and being vocal and encouraging guys.

“Not bringing guys down, but just trying to pick them up and then let them know to get back to our standard.”

Add Kansas State football quarterbacks coach Matt Wells to list of Avery Johnson fans

It didn’t take winning the starting job for Johnson to demonstrate the it factor that Klieman saw during the recruiting process. That is why he didn’t hesitate in bringing Johnson to Las Vegas on Tuesday as one of K-State’s five representatives at Big 12 media days.

“We saw enough last year that for us, we knew he was going to be the guy long term for us, and he was ready for the moment,” Klieman said. “It was his time and I told him when we recruited him, he’s going to be the face of the program.

“And it came up late in his first year where he ended up truly being the face, and I’m excited because he’s taken that mantle really well, and he’s been a great leader.”

Johnson has earned the team’s respect by putting his money where his mouth is, Klieman added.

“He always has been a really mature guy. But he’s a humble guy, and he works his tail off,” Klieman said. “He’s the best competitor I’ve been around since Easton Stick, and I had Easton at North Dakota State for five years, and he’s with the Chargers.

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson’s maturity shines through in bowl victory

“Avery is that kind of competitor. If you come out and watch a morning run, he’s not losing any of the competition drills. He’s not losing any of the races where it’s not a race, where he’s just going to finish first in everything he does.”

Super-senior linebacker and team captain Austin Moore agreed.

“He is accepted as the guy because he puts in the work, and not only is he an exceptional talent, which anyone can see by just watching him,” Moore said in an interview with Go Powercat. “But he’s someone that’s going to put in the work and have the talent, which is a rare thing to see.

“I’ve been around for a long time, and you don’t see that happen a whole lost.”

For Johnson, his leadership remains a work in progress.

“Just trying to be more vocal,” he reiterated. “Other than that, just continuing to put my head down and work and continue to lead by example.”

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

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Kansas

IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Published

6 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.

Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.

In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.

He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.

In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.

He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.

The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.

The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.

Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.

More transfer portal information:

For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

Published

18 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.

The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.

Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.

Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.

Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.

Kansas football transfer portal additions

Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle

Kansas football transfer portal departures

Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)

Jacoby Davis (cornerback)

Dylan Brooks (defensive end)

Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)

Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)

Trey Lathan (linebacker)

Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)

Harry Stewart III (running back)

Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end

Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)

David McComb (3-star quarterback)

Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)

Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)

Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)

Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)

Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)

Damani Maxson (3-star safety)

Jaden Hamm (tight end)

Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)

JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)

Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)

Efren Jasso (punter)

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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