Preparing for the Long Haul
Aug 15, 2025 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
On the verge of meeting No. 22 Iowa State in Week 0 on August 23 in Dublin, Ireland, Kansas State offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and associate head coach Matt Wells indicated that the Wildcats have adopted a wholistic approach in preparing not just for one opponent, but for the rest of the 12-game regular-season schedule as well.
No. 17 K-State, projected by most national news organizations to be a contender for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game, completed its 16th session of training camp when Wells, who arrived at K-State prior to the 2024 season, took the floor for the first time this summer and delved into various topics surrounding what is projected to be a dynamic offense.
"We're trying to get them ready for the season," Wells said. "It's more than just one game. It's trying to prepare these guys for the long haul."
The process, as Wells detailed, involves installing schemes, strength and conditioning, mental conditioning on the field during adverse situations, a plethora of play installation, and finally formulating a game plan.
Which Wells believes that the Wildcats have accomplished heading toward a date in Dublin against the Cyclones, who have beaten the Wildcats each of the past two years.
Wells kept any supplemental planning for the overseas travel and time difference and playing in a foreign environment tight to his vest. After earlier in the summer stating that he planned to call his first game as an offensive coordinator from the coaches' booth at Aviva Stadium, Wells during a news conference on Tuesday did confirm that he would call plays from the K-State sideline in the season opener.
"We'll get over there, and we'll get acclimated and go play in a game," he said. "It won't matter where this game is going to be played, our guys will be ready to play."
The K-State offense returns six players who started in at least five games last season. That includes quarterback Avery Johnson, wide receiver Jayce Brown, running back Dylan Edwards, center Sam Hecht, tight end Garrett Oakley and offensive lineman Taylor Poitier.
Wells, who the Associated Press called, "one of the game's top offensive minds," is no stranger to developing quarterback talent and carries over 25 years of coaching experience. He tutored Johnson to a school-record 25 touchdown passes while Johnson also finished fifth in school history with 2,712 passing yards. He was one of three quarterbacks from Power 4 schools to record at least 2,700 passing yards and 600 rushing yards last season.
The K-State offense ranked top 15 in the FBS in yards per rushing attempt and rushing yards per game. K-State also ranked top 10 in school history in 15 game or season categories in 2024.
All things considered, the K-State offense enjoyed one of the 10 best seasons in history.
This 2025 offense could be headed that way.
"We have some guys who have played ball. I rest easier in that," Wells said. "We have a quarterback that has played 14 games and there are starts on that offensive line and a few who have played in other places. The tight end room is really experienced. Jayce played in a lot of games. Jaron Tibbs and Jerand Bradley have played in a lot of games, not in a Wildcat uniform, but in a lot of games. Dylan and Joe Jackson have played in games. I take that as a positive because I think I know what they're going to be, but we have some of those guys who are new and improved, just a newer version of them.
"I'm excited to see them all together."
Asked specifically about how Johnson is "different" than a year ago, Wells replied, "He's probably more comfortable in his own skin and ability."
"It's like, 'I don't need to be this certain type of player and listen to the media or when someone asks me about being a certain prototypical 'blank' type of quarterback. I'm good when I run. I'm good when I throw it,'" Wells said. "He's further along in coverage recognition, in his ability to dissect a defense a little quicker, and that takes times, live reps and a lot of looks. Certainly, with all the safeties that Joe Klanderman plays in the back end that can be a challenge for us in training camp, and it's a good look knowing who our first opponent is."
Wells first revealed in the spring that he had maintained ongoing dialog with Johnson regarding the offensive plays. Wells addressed the topic again on Tuesday.
"The longer I'm in it, you got to know it's a players' game," Wells said. "We're here to guide them and push them in the right direction and to call plays hopefully at the right time. I've had a lot of really, really good play calls that don't get executed very well, and I've had some where you're like, 'Oh, no,' and the guy made a play. Investment for those guys when they know that they're invested in it, sometimes they take a little bit more ownership in it. When you know your name is on it, you take it a little bit more personal. We all take it personal. He takes it personal.
"The collaboration with Avery is so important because he's seeing it through his facemask with big linemen, and it doesn't look like it does on coaches' video from a very high camera where you see all the pieces moving. He has to have depth perception. There are some things he sees better than others. He needs to relay that to me. It may not fit what he feels, and he might like something better, and we can accomplish the same thing, why not? They're the ones pushing the buttons."
Wells indicated that Edwards has the capacity to push all the right buttons as a lights-out talent with the ball in his hands.
Exactly what would make for a successful season for Edwards?
"Lot of yards rushing, some dynamic catches, hopefully a punt or two for a score so we don't even have to play on offense," Wells said. "That'd be cool. He's electric. We all know it. Every time the ball touches his hands, you have a chance to hold up one finger and say, 'Kick it.' He can hit that home run. I envision him in space, between the tackles, and he's going to play receiver and running back. He's a talented kid."
Apparently, so is Tibbs, who described himself as a "late bloomer" in the game of football after his dedication to basketball in high school. Tibbs, an Indianapolis native and two-year wide receiver at Purdue, visited K-State in December, cancelled trips to Arkansas and USC, signed with K-State in January, and quickly found a home with the K-State starting offense in training camp.
Coaches and teammates have gushed over the abilities of the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, who's athleticism coupled with deft route running in traffic and speed on the post makes the sure-handed pass catcher a virtual threat across the field, as evidenced by several highlight catches in practice.
"Yeah, he's good," Wells said, trying to conceal a half smile. "He's a good player. He's smart, versatile, can play lots of spots, blocks well on the perimeter, cares about blocking, has strong hands, and he's probably deceptively faster than you think. He has a big body. I think he's going to have a very good year. We're hopeful of that and he is too. He's a great kid who's been raised the right way and he's bought into everything at K-State."
On the verge of meeting No. 22 Iowa State in Week 0 on August 23 in Dublin, Ireland, Kansas State offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and associate head coach Matt Wells indicated that the Wildcats have adopted a wholistic approach in preparing not just for one opponent, but for the rest of the 12-game regular-season schedule as well.
No. 17 K-State, projected by most national news organizations to be a contender for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game, completed its 16th session of training camp when Wells, who arrived at K-State prior to the 2024 season, took the floor for the first time this summer and delved into various topics surrounding what is projected to be a dynamic offense.
"We're trying to get them ready for the season," Wells said. "It's more than just one game. It's trying to prepare these guys for the long haul."
The process, as Wells detailed, involves installing schemes, strength and conditioning, mental conditioning on the field during adverse situations, a plethora of play installation, and finally formulating a game plan.
Which Wells believes that the Wildcats have accomplished heading toward a date in Dublin against the Cyclones, who have beaten the Wildcats each of the past two years.
Wells kept any supplemental planning for the overseas travel and time difference and playing in a foreign environment tight to his vest. After earlier in the summer stating that he planned to call his first game as an offensive coordinator from the coaches' booth at Aviva Stadium, Wells during a news conference on Tuesday did confirm that he would call plays from the K-State sideline in the season opener.
"We'll get over there, and we'll get acclimated and go play in a game," he said. "It won't matter where this game is going to be played, our guys will be ready to play."
The K-State offense returns six players who started in at least five games last season. That includes quarterback Avery Johnson, wide receiver Jayce Brown, running back Dylan Edwards, center Sam Hecht, tight end Garrett Oakley and offensive lineman Taylor Poitier.
Wells, who the Associated Press called, "one of the game's top offensive minds," is no stranger to developing quarterback talent and carries over 25 years of coaching experience. He tutored Johnson to a school-record 25 touchdown passes while Johnson also finished fifth in school history with 2,712 passing yards. He was one of three quarterbacks from Power 4 schools to record at least 2,700 passing yards and 600 rushing yards last season.
The K-State offense ranked top 15 in the FBS in yards per rushing attempt and rushing yards per game. K-State also ranked top 10 in school history in 15 game or season categories in 2024.
All things considered, the K-State offense enjoyed one of the 10 best seasons in history.
This 2025 offense could be headed that way.
"We have some guys who have played ball. I rest easier in that," Wells said. "We have a quarterback that has played 14 games and there are starts on that offensive line and a few who have played in other places. The tight end room is really experienced. Jayce played in a lot of games. Jaron Tibbs and Jerand Bradley have played in a lot of games, not in a Wildcat uniform, but in a lot of games. Dylan and Joe Jackson have played in games. I take that as a positive because I think I know what they're going to be, but we have some of those guys who are new and improved, just a newer version of them.
"I'm excited to see them all together."
Asked specifically about how Johnson is "different" than a year ago, Wells replied, "He's probably more comfortable in his own skin and ability."
"It's like, 'I don't need to be this certain type of player and listen to the media or when someone asks me about being a certain prototypical 'blank' type of quarterback. I'm good when I run. I'm good when I throw it,'" Wells said. "He's further along in coverage recognition, in his ability to dissect a defense a little quicker, and that takes times, live reps and a lot of looks. Certainly, with all the safeties that Joe Klanderman plays in the back end that can be a challenge for us in training camp, and it's a good look knowing who our first opponent is."
Wells first revealed in the spring that he had maintained ongoing dialog with Johnson regarding the offensive plays. Wells addressed the topic again on Tuesday.
"The longer I'm in it, you got to know it's a players' game," Wells said. "We're here to guide them and push them in the right direction and to call plays hopefully at the right time. I've had a lot of really, really good play calls that don't get executed very well, and I've had some where you're like, 'Oh, no,' and the guy made a play. Investment for those guys when they know that they're invested in it, sometimes they take a little bit more ownership in it. When you know your name is on it, you take it a little bit more personal. We all take it personal. He takes it personal.
"The collaboration with Avery is so important because he's seeing it through his facemask with big linemen, and it doesn't look like it does on coaches' video from a very high camera where you see all the pieces moving. He has to have depth perception. There are some things he sees better than others. He needs to relay that to me. It may not fit what he feels, and he might like something better, and we can accomplish the same thing, why not? They're the ones pushing the buttons."
Wells indicated that Edwards has the capacity to push all the right buttons as a lights-out talent with the ball in his hands.
Exactly what would make for a successful season for Edwards?
"Lot of yards rushing, some dynamic catches, hopefully a punt or two for a score so we don't even have to play on offense," Wells said. "That'd be cool. He's electric. We all know it. Every time the ball touches his hands, you have a chance to hold up one finger and say, 'Kick it.' He can hit that home run. I envision him in space, between the tackles, and he's going to play receiver and running back. He's a talented kid."
Apparently, so is Tibbs, who described himself as a "late bloomer" in the game of football after his dedication to basketball in high school. Tibbs, an Indianapolis native and two-year wide receiver at Purdue, visited K-State in December, cancelled trips to Arkansas and USC, signed with K-State in January, and quickly found a home with the K-State starting offense in training camp.
Coaches and teammates have gushed over the abilities of the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, who's athleticism coupled with deft route running in traffic and speed on the post makes the sure-handed pass catcher a virtual threat across the field, as evidenced by several highlight catches in practice.
"Yeah, he's good," Wells said, trying to conceal a half smile. "He's a good player. He's smart, versatile, can play lots of spots, blocks well on the perimeter, cares about blocking, has strong hands, and he's probably deceptively faster than you think. He has a big body. I think he's going to have a very good year. We're hopeful of that and he is too. He's a great kid who's been raised the right way and he's bought into everything at K-State."
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