A Quarterback Room Willing to Learn
Apr 11, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Ask Matt Wells about his relationship with sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, and it doesn't take long for Kansas State's new co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to grin.
"Oh, man," Wells said. "Where to start with that? The kid, first of all, has such a deep desire to be great and wants to be coached."
Wells, who also serves as associate head coach, said that Johnson filled an iPad with notes when the coach and player began meeting a couple months ago. They speak daily and discuss scheme, progression reads, full-field reads, footwork, timing or routes, 2-minute mechanics, demeanor, and how to call plays in the huddle.
"All those little things about playing quarterback, and leadership, and things to improve on, man, I could go on and on," Wells said. "We talk about a plethora of things."
Wells described the conversations as being "fun" and "lively" with "joking, back-and-forth, and all of that."
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Johnson likely needs no introduction to K-State loyalists. Although he started in just two games last season – including one as one of two quarterbacks on the field – he did play in eight games overall, and proved to be electrifying whenever he was on the field.
Johnson is being touted as one of the top sophomores to watch in college football in the 2024 season after the talented dual-threat quarterback threw for 479 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 296 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman last season. He capped his efforts with 178 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 71 rushing yards and one touchdown while guiding the Wildcats to a 28-19 victory over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
K-State is projected as a top-25 team in the preseason, and Johnson, regarded as the top dual-threat passer in the Class of 2023, is one reason why.
What most impresses Wells about Johnson so far in spring practice?
"Maybe just how consistent of a passer he is," Wells said. "That certainly is not talked about enough, but he's got a small body of work on game day, maybe less than 100 snaps on game day. I've seen 500-and-something balls this spring. The consistency of his release point and consistency in his accuracy in passes, he's able to lay balls up and throw with different velocities, and that's something that I didn't know (he could do).
"I'm not surprised but I didn't know that. Those are all evaluations you get when you're with a young man on a daily basis."
Johnson will operate an offense that is working to rebuild the offensive line, returns one of the best running backs in the Big 12 Conference in DJ Giddens, and features Jayce Brown, Keagan Johnson at wide receiver. Playmakers are steadily emerging. Wells has notably been impressed with the team's tight ends.
"I want it to be an offense that plays wide open and that is exciting," Wells said. "I'd like to throw the ball to score and run the ball to win."
"There is nothing more satisfying than finishing with the ball in your hands at the end of the game, pounding people and making first downs, and taking a knee," he continued. "That's one thing that from the running back room to the offensive line room and tight end room isn't going to change here."
Wells has nine years of head coaching experience and spent the past two years at Oklahoma as advisor to the head coach while serving as an offensive analyst. He also served as head coach at his alma mater, Utah State, from 2013-2018, and at Texas Tech from 2019-2021.
Over his 27-year coaching career, he has also spent time coaching wide receivers and tight ends.
"Throwing the ball to score, I think is an exciting brand," he said, "and something that puts the ball into the hands of our playmakers out on the perimeter and gets into a numbers game with the defense in trying to outnumber them in a lot of ways, but, man, we know who our identity is to finish a game, and that's how you want to finish it, running the ball."
One popular question remains exactly how to keep Johnson on his feet in the midst of his rushing abilities.
"That'll be a question that'll be asked to me probably 25 more times before the end of August because that'll be a key," Wells said. "That's a key every week. As I look ahead to hopefully a 15-game season, I'm preparing for Avery Johnson to play every snap for 15 games, and that's how he has to prepare his body over the summer, gaining weight and gaining strength.
"You lift, eat and gain weight as a quarterback to get up off the ground and play another snap. You're already going to take seven to eight hits in the pocket in a game – that's just the cost of doing business while throwing the ball – and you're going to take some hits scrambling, but it's about knowing when to get down — did I get a first down? I'm in the open field and I can slide, and I can step out of bounds and be smart — that'll be him and he'll have enough savvy to know when to do that. Certainly, being very aware of that and understanding that it can take a cumulative effect on a quarterback as the season goes on, but he has to do his part with gaining weight and gaining strength to be able to withstand some of those hits."
It appears K-State has a few quarterbacks, in particular, who are actively competing for the backup job — a battle that Wells anticipates "going potentially throughout the season."
Johnson is the only quarterback on the roster who has attempted a pass in an official game.
"Jacob Knuth has had a really good spring, and just seeing the tape from December bowl prep of him to now, a lot of improvement," Wells said. "I'm very happy with Jacob. He comes in very prepared and takes a lot of notes and is quiet by nature, but that doesn't mean he's uninterested or uninvolved or not invested. He's very invested, and he's done a great job improving his footwork and his drops. He has a stronger arm and a better arm than you think. I've been very happy with him."
Knuth is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore who did not see any action in 2023 after transferring from Minnesota after the 2022 season. He was rated the 27th-best pocket passer in the Class of 2022 by ESPN. A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Knuth was named Gatorade Player of the Year for South Dakota.
Kellen Simoncic is a 6-foot-2, 211-pound senior transfer who threw for 3,162 yards and 32 touchdowns while playing in 17 games with 12 starts at Washburn.
"Kellen coming in, this has been a step up in ball and speed of the game, but he's done a nice job learning it and fitting in and putting himself into position to compete," Wells said.
Max Marsh, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior and native of Grand Junction, Colorado, has played in 19 games over the past two seasons, primarily as a reserve safety and on special teams. He totaled nearly 6,000 yards and scored 39 touchdowns in his high school career while rushing for more than 13,000 yards and 13 scores.
"Max played defensive back and special teams, and then went to quarterback in December before I got here, and now has stayed at quarterback," Wells said. "He's athletic, he's got a baby bazooka for an arm. The ball shoots out of his hands – sometimes a lot faster and harder than it needs to – but he's athletic, he can run, he's savvy and smart, and a great veteran."
Wells continued.
"I have to prepare Avery, and he has to prepare himself that he's going to take every snap for 15 games," he said, "but I as a coach have to be very diligent to have the mindset that I have to prepare a kid that may be playing a lot of games, too, in case Avery gets a hangnail."
Wells knocked on a wood table as good luck.
It'll take more than luck for defenses to halt Johnson and the Wildcats in the fall.
Ask Matt Wells about his relationship with sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, and it doesn't take long for Kansas State's new co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to grin.
"Oh, man," Wells said. "Where to start with that? The kid, first of all, has such a deep desire to be great and wants to be coached."
Wells, who also serves as associate head coach, said that Johnson filled an iPad with notes when the coach and player began meeting a couple months ago. They speak daily and discuss scheme, progression reads, full-field reads, footwork, timing or routes, 2-minute mechanics, demeanor, and how to call plays in the huddle.
"All those little things about playing quarterback, and leadership, and things to improve on, man, I could go on and on," Wells said. "We talk about a plethora of things."
Wells described the conversations as being "fun" and "lively" with "joking, back-and-forth, and all of that."
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Johnson likely needs no introduction to K-State loyalists. Although he started in just two games last season – including one as one of two quarterbacks on the field – he did play in eight games overall, and proved to be electrifying whenever he was on the field.
Johnson is being touted as one of the top sophomores to watch in college football in the 2024 season after the talented dual-threat quarterback threw for 479 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 296 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman last season. He capped his efforts with 178 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 71 rushing yards and one touchdown while guiding the Wildcats to a 28-19 victory over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
K-State is projected as a top-25 team in the preseason, and Johnson, regarded as the top dual-threat passer in the Class of 2023, is one reason why.
What most impresses Wells about Johnson so far in spring practice?
"Maybe just how consistent of a passer he is," Wells said. "That certainly is not talked about enough, but he's got a small body of work on game day, maybe less than 100 snaps on game day. I've seen 500-and-something balls this spring. The consistency of his release point and consistency in his accuracy in passes, he's able to lay balls up and throw with different velocities, and that's something that I didn't know (he could do).
"I'm not surprised but I didn't know that. Those are all evaluations you get when you're with a young man on a daily basis."
Johnson will operate an offense that is working to rebuild the offensive line, returns one of the best running backs in the Big 12 Conference in DJ Giddens, and features Jayce Brown, Keagan Johnson at wide receiver. Playmakers are steadily emerging. Wells has notably been impressed with the team's tight ends.
"I want it to be an offense that plays wide open and that is exciting," Wells said. "I'd like to throw the ball to score and run the ball to win."
"There is nothing more satisfying than finishing with the ball in your hands at the end of the game, pounding people and making first downs, and taking a knee," he continued. "That's one thing that from the running back room to the offensive line room and tight end room isn't going to change here."
Wells has nine years of head coaching experience and spent the past two years at Oklahoma as advisor to the head coach while serving as an offensive analyst. He also served as head coach at his alma mater, Utah State, from 2013-2018, and at Texas Tech from 2019-2021.
Over his 27-year coaching career, he has also spent time coaching wide receivers and tight ends.
"Throwing the ball to score, I think is an exciting brand," he said, "and something that puts the ball into the hands of our playmakers out on the perimeter and gets into a numbers game with the defense in trying to outnumber them in a lot of ways, but, man, we know who our identity is to finish a game, and that's how you want to finish it, running the ball."
One popular question remains exactly how to keep Johnson on his feet in the midst of his rushing abilities.
"That'll be a question that'll be asked to me probably 25 more times before the end of August because that'll be a key," Wells said. "That's a key every week. As I look ahead to hopefully a 15-game season, I'm preparing for Avery Johnson to play every snap for 15 games, and that's how he has to prepare his body over the summer, gaining weight and gaining strength.
"You lift, eat and gain weight as a quarterback to get up off the ground and play another snap. You're already going to take seven to eight hits in the pocket in a game – that's just the cost of doing business while throwing the ball – and you're going to take some hits scrambling, but it's about knowing when to get down — did I get a first down? I'm in the open field and I can slide, and I can step out of bounds and be smart — that'll be him and he'll have enough savvy to know when to do that. Certainly, being very aware of that and understanding that it can take a cumulative effect on a quarterback as the season goes on, but he has to do his part with gaining weight and gaining strength to be able to withstand some of those hits."
It appears K-State has a few quarterbacks, in particular, who are actively competing for the backup job — a battle that Wells anticipates "going potentially throughout the season."
Johnson is the only quarterback on the roster who has attempted a pass in an official game.
"Jacob Knuth has had a really good spring, and just seeing the tape from December bowl prep of him to now, a lot of improvement," Wells said. "I'm very happy with Jacob. He comes in very prepared and takes a lot of notes and is quiet by nature, but that doesn't mean he's uninterested or uninvolved or not invested. He's very invested, and he's done a great job improving his footwork and his drops. He has a stronger arm and a better arm than you think. I've been very happy with him."
Knuth is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore who did not see any action in 2023 after transferring from Minnesota after the 2022 season. He was rated the 27th-best pocket passer in the Class of 2022 by ESPN. A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Knuth was named Gatorade Player of the Year for South Dakota.
Kellen Simoncic is a 6-foot-2, 211-pound senior transfer who threw for 3,162 yards and 32 touchdowns while playing in 17 games with 12 starts at Washburn.
"Kellen coming in, this has been a step up in ball and speed of the game, but he's done a nice job learning it and fitting in and putting himself into position to compete," Wells said.
Max Marsh, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior and native of Grand Junction, Colorado, has played in 19 games over the past two seasons, primarily as a reserve safety and on special teams. He totaled nearly 6,000 yards and scored 39 touchdowns in his high school career while rushing for more than 13,000 yards and 13 scores.
"Max played defensive back and special teams, and then went to quarterback in December before I got here, and now has stayed at quarterback," Wells said. "He's athletic, he's got a baby bazooka for an arm. The ball shoots out of his hands – sometimes a lot faster and harder than it needs to – but he's athletic, he can run, he's savvy and smart, and a great veteran."
Wells continued.
"I have to prepare Avery, and he has to prepare himself that he's going to take every snap for 15 games," he said, "but I as a coach have to be very diligent to have the mindset that I have to prepare a kid that may be playing a lot of games, too, in case Avery gets a hangnail."
Wells knocked on a wood table as good luck.
It'll take more than luck for defenses to halt Johnson and the Wildcats in the fall.
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