Two Guys Who Can Lead the Team to Victory
Oct 18, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman has a decision to make this week in Manhattan.
The K-State head coach can start either one of his high-quality quarterbacks, as the Wildcats head toward Game 7 of the 2023 regular season. The Wildcats have a proven passer in senior team captain Will Howard, but it was true freshman Avery Johnson who commanded the offense and rushed for a school record-tying five touchdowns in a 38-21 win at Texas Tech last Saturday. It was one of the most prolific performances by a true freshman quarterback in K-State history.
"We have two guys we can win with," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said in his weekly news conference.
Although Howard started the game against the Red Raiders, he split possessions with Johnson as the first half wore on. Johnson took over in the second half after the Red Raiders gave up free lanes for the speedy 6-foot-2, 188-yard native of Wichita, Kansas, to run through — including a 30-yard touchdown on 3rd and 10 toward the end of the third quarter.
Now K-State, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, prepares for Saturday's game against TCU, 4-3 and 2-2, with two capable signal-callers, including one in Howard who, just 10 months ago, led the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship with a 31-28 overtime victory over the Horned Frogs.
"I don't know how it's going to work out on Saturday, guys," Klieman said. "It's Tuesday right now, and what we learned from this past Saturday is that we've seen Will play at a really high level and be successful and then we saw Avery play at a high level and be successful, so we feel comfortable with both guys leading this football team.
"I couldn't tell you, I don't have an answer, (offensive coordinator Collin Klein) wouldn't have the answer, if he thought it'd be a 60-40, 50-50, 90-10 split. We have no idea. We're going through the game plan and will see who, where and what gives us the best opportunity."
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Howard, who entered the season on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, is one of just five quarterbacks in school history with at least 1,000 passing yards in three different seasons. He has completed 58.1% of his passes for 1,310 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
He was seen interacting with Johnson and teammates on the sideline after watching the 18-year-old score touchdowns in his first Big 12 Conference game.
"I'm sure it's not easy — I know it's not easy," Klieman said. "I'm sure deep down Will was frustrated, but he also wants to win and that's what we need here and what we expect here. One of our core values is to be selfless. On Saturday, he had to be selfless, and he helped Avery. He and Avery are very close."
The Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Johnson completed 8-of-9 passes for 77 yards and rushed 13 times for 90 yards and five scores, tying the single-game rushing touchdown record set by Collin Klein (2011 vs. Texas A&M) and Jonathan Beasley (2000 vs. North Texas).
The top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023 by Rivals, Johnson rushed for the most touchdowns by a FBS true freshman quarterback in a game since at least 1995. It's also the most rushing touchdowns by a FBS player in a game this season.
"He's tremendously gifted, as we all know," Klieman said of Johnson's progression since his arrival in the spring, "but it's hard work and practice and repetition."
Howard has plenty of repetitions. He ranks eighth all-time with 351 completions and 10th all-time with 604 passing attempts.
Senior center Hayden Gillum has confidence that Howard will respond.
"He's come back this week and attacked it," Gillum said. "You're still going to see Will Howard the rest of the year. It doesn't matter who's back there, we're going to win football games. You guys have seen Will respond, and he came in Monday, same leadership, still leading the team, running things.
"We knew (the quarterback run) was an area that we thought we could potentially exploit Texas Tech. It was great to get Avery that experience, but I think you'll see Will respond, and he'll be usual Will."
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman has a decision to make this week in Manhattan.
The K-State head coach can start either one of his high-quality quarterbacks, as the Wildcats head toward Game 7 of the 2023 regular season. The Wildcats have a proven passer in senior team captain Will Howard, but it was true freshman Avery Johnson who commanded the offense and rushed for a school record-tying five touchdowns in a 38-21 win at Texas Tech last Saturday. It was one of the most prolific performances by a true freshman quarterback in K-State history.
"We have two guys we can win with," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said in his weekly news conference.
Although Howard started the game against the Red Raiders, he split possessions with Johnson as the first half wore on. Johnson took over in the second half after the Red Raiders gave up free lanes for the speedy 6-foot-2, 188-yard native of Wichita, Kansas, to run through — including a 30-yard touchdown on 3rd and 10 toward the end of the third quarter.
Now K-State, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, prepares for Saturday's game against TCU, 4-3 and 2-2, with two capable signal-callers, including one in Howard who, just 10 months ago, led the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship with a 31-28 overtime victory over the Horned Frogs.
"I don't know how it's going to work out on Saturday, guys," Klieman said. "It's Tuesday right now, and what we learned from this past Saturday is that we've seen Will play at a really high level and be successful and then we saw Avery play at a high level and be successful, so we feel comfortable with both guys leading this football team.
"I couldn't tell you, I don't have an answer, (offensive coordinator Collin Klein) wouldn't have the answer, if he thought it'd be a 60-40, 50-50, 90-10 split. We have no idea. We're going through the game plan and will see who, where and what gives us the best opportunity."
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Howard, who entered the season on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, is one of just five quarterbacks in school history with at least 1,000 passing yards in three different seasons. He has completed 58.1% of his passes for 1,310 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
He was seen interacting with Johnson and teammates on the sideline after watching the 18-year-old score touchdowns in his first Big 12 Conference game.
"I'm sure it's not easy — I know it's not easy," Klieman said. "I'm sure deep down Will was frustrated, but he also wants to win and that's what we need here and what we expect here. One of our core values is to be selfless. On Saturday, he had to be selfless, and he helped Avery. He and Avery are very close."
The Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Johnson completed 8-of-9 passes for 77 yards and rushed 13 times for 90 yards and five scores, tying the single-game rushing touchdown record set by Collin Klein (2011 vs. Texas A&M) and Jonathan Beasley (2000 vs. North Texas).
The top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023 by Rivals, Johnson rushed for the most touchdowns by a FBS true freshman quarterback in a game since at least 1995. It's also the most rushing touchdowns by a FBS player in a game this season.
"He's tremendously gifted, as we all know," Klieman said of Johnson's progression since his arrival in the spring, "but it's hard work and practice and repetition."
Howard has plenty of repetitions. He ranks eighth all-time with 351 completions and 10th all-time with 604 passing attempts.
Senior center Hayden Gillum has confidence that Howard will respond.
"He's come back this week and attacked it," Gillum said. "You're still going to see Will Howard the rest of the year. It doesn't matter who's back there, we're going to win football games. You guys have seen Will respond, and he came in Monday, same leadership, still leading the team, running things.
"We knew (the quarterback run) was an area that we thought we could potentially exploit Texas Tech. It was great to get Avery that experience, but I think you'll see Will respond, and he'll be usual Will."
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