Past Meets Present
Oct 16, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
You had to wonder what was running through the mind of Collin Klein, but to know Klein is to know that he gave it no mind, the rushing touchdown record, but the second-year Kansas State offensive coordinator and 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist does know this: To succeed, you have to give it away. For years, Klein has poured into young quarterbacks. He has tried to teach them everything that he knows. But Klein has said more than once that it's hard to find a bigger competitor than Avery Johnson, arguably the most electric true freshman quarterback in K-State history. Klein has taught Johnson so well.
In doing so, Johnson might shatter one, two, or more of Klein's records. Knowing Klein, nothing would make him happier.
On Saturday night, we witnessed Johnson's rush after rush and touchdown after touchdown in the most significant action of his young career, as the pride of Maize High School scored five rushing touchdowns — five! — to tie Klein (2011) and Jonathan Beasley (2000) for the most rushing touchdowns in a game in school history. There is no telling where Johnson will go from here and there is no way to grasp the heights that he might achieve in a year, two years, or three. No, those times seem far, far away, distant stars out in gridiron darkness, yet a stage is waiting, yes, a stage awaits, one shared by Klein, Bishop, Roberson, and the greats, which is only to suggest that Johnson either already possesses or could possess the tools to become one of the finest dual-threat quarterbacks ever to wear purple and white.
Yes, Johnson made that kind of impact in a 38-21 victory at Texas Tech. From his 2-yard touchdown rush on his first possession in the first quarter to his 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, to his 30-yard and 11-yard rushing touchdowns in the third, and his 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth, Johnson darned near made the most of every opportunity, his competitiveness shining through each time he took the field. He completed 8-of-9 passes for 77 yards. He had 12 carries for 91 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The kicker? He could've had more. He broke off a 14-yard run in the final minute and slid to a stop. Coaches instructed him to.
"It was (called) 'first-down, go-down,'" he says. "If I'd kept running, I probably could've walked into the end zone. It's really not about that. I just wanted to get off the field with that W."
Not only did Johnson tie the K-State single-game record for rushing touchdowns, but his five rushing touchdowns are the most by a FBS player this season, and they are the most nationally by a true freshman since Oklahoma's Samaje Perinehad five against Kansas on November 22, 2014.
Johnson's five rushing touchdowns are the most nationally by a true freshman quarterback since at least 1995, which also means they are the most by a true freshman quarterback in Big 12 history.
"Before I even got to college, it's just my dad, he's always let me know to always have the most confidence in the world, and whatever situation I'm put in, I'm blessed and highly favored by God to be able to just go out and do what I really feel like he put me on this earth to do," Johnson says. "I just have a lot of confidence in myself. Everybody in this program believing in me and being confident in me, it just makes my job easy."
He certainly made it look easy.
Five rushing touchdowns.
"Didn't know that," left guard Cooper Beebe says. "Oh wow. That's even better than I thought. It's just amazing, and he was so appreciative of us as offensive linemen. That's a great feeling. Can't wait to see what else he has for us."
Adds running back Treshaun Ward: "Man, it was unbelievable."
Johnson, the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023 by Rivals, arrived at K-State in January a 6-foot-2, 175-pounder who ate snacks during class to put on weight. Now the 18-year-old weighs 188 pounds and appears primed to gobble up rushing yards and touchdowns for the Wildcats, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference, who next play TCU in Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State head coach Chris Klieman and Klein likely saw this time coming. But this soon?
A year ago at around this time, Johnson was wrapping up a senior season in which he threw for 2,768 yards and 29 touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 817 rushing yards and 15 scores while leading Maize to a 12-1 record.
And now, well, now Klieman, Klein, Beebe, Ward, and Wildcat Nation can only dream what might come next.
"He has a calmness, a demeanor to him, a competitiveness," Klieman says. "When we recruited him, that's the No. 1 thing that jumped out at me, how competitive he was in every sport and in every game that you play, in everything.
"When you have that kind of competitor, the moment probably is never going to be too big."
Klein must be so proud.
You had to wonder what was running through the mind of Collin Klein, but to know Klein is to know that he gave it no mind, the rushing touchdown record, but the second-year Kansas State offensive coordinator and 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist does know this: To succeed, you have to give it away. For years, Klein has poured into young quarterbacks. He has tried to teach them everything that he knows. But Klein has said more than once that it's hard to find a bigger competitor than Avery Johnson, arguably the most electric true freshman quarterback in K-State history. Klein has taught Johnson so well.
In doing so, Johnson might shatter one, two, or more of Klein's records. Knowing Klein, nothing would make him happier.
On Saturday night, we witnessed Johnson's rush after rush and touchdown after touchdown in the most significant action of his young career, as the pride of Maize High School scored five rushing touchdowns — five! — to tie Klein (2011) and Jonathan Beasley (2000) for the most rushing touchdowns in a game in school history. There is no telling where Johnson will go from here and there is no way to grasp the heights that he might achieve in a year, two years, or three. No, those times seem far, far away, distant stars out in gridiron darkness, yet a stage is waiting, yes, a stage awaits, one shared by Klein, Bishop, Roberson, and the greats, which is only to suggest that Johnson either already possesses or could possess the tools to become one of the finest dual-threat quarterbacks ever to wear purple and white.
Yes, Johnson made that kind of impact in a 38-21 victory at Texas Tech. From his 2-yard touchdown rush on his first possession in the first quarter to his 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, to his 30-yard and 11-yard rushing touchdowns in the third, and his 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth, Johnson darned near made the most of every opportunity, his competitiveness shining through each time he took the field. He completed 8-of-9 passes for 77 yards. He had 12 carries for 91 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The kicker? He could've had more. He broke off a 14-yard run in the final minute and slid to a stop. Coaches instructed him to.
"It was (called) 'first-down, go-down,'" he says. "If I'd kept running, I probably could've walked into the end zone. It's really not about that. I just wanted to get off the field with that W."
Not only did Johnson tie the K-State single-game record for rushing touchdowns, but his five rushing touchdowns are the most by a FBS player this season, and they are the most nationally by a true freshman since Oklahoma's Samaje Perinehad five against Kansas on November 22, 2014.
Johnson's five rushing touchdowns are the most nationally by a true freshman quarterback since at least 1995, which also means they are the most by a true freshman quarterback in Big 12 history.
"Before I even got to college, it's just my dad, he's always let me know to always have the most confidence in the world, and whatever situation I'm put in, I'm blessed and highly favored by God to be able to just go out and do what I really feel like he put me on this earth to do," Johnson says. "I just have a lot of confidence in myself. Everybody in this program believing in me and being confident in me, it just makes my job easy."
He certainly made it look easy.
Five rushing touchdowns.
"Didn't know that," left guard Cooper Beebe says. "Oh wow. That's even better than I thought. It's just amazing, and he was so appreciative of us as offensive linemen. That's a great feeling. Can't wait to see what else he has for us."
Adds running back Treshaun Ward: "Man, it was unbelievable."
Johnson, the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023 by Rivals, arrived at K-State in January a 6-foot-2, 175-pounder who ate snacks during class to put on weight. Now the 18-year-old weighs 188 pounds and appears primed to gobble up rushing yards and touchdowns for the Wildcats, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference, who next play TCU in Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State head coach Chris Klieman and Klein likely saw this time coming. But this soon?
A year ago at around this time, Johnson was wrapping up a senior season in which he threw for 2,768 yards and 29 touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 817 rushing yards and 15 scores while leading Maize to a 12-1 record.
And now, well, now Klieman, Klein, Beebe, Ward, and Wildcat Nation can only dream what might come next.
"He has a calmness, a demeanor to him, a competitiveness," Klieman says. "When we recruited him, that's the No. 1 thing that jumped out at me, how competitive he was in every sport and in every game that you play, in everything.
"When you have that kind of competitor, the moment probably is never going to be too big."
Klein must be so proud.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
Wednesday, June 10
Tuesday, June 09
