MANHATTAN — Avery Johnson and Collin Klein exchanged their hugs at the Kansas State football facility upon the latter's hiring as head coach. The two are reunited, and Johnson chose to play his final season of eligibility in a Wildcats uniform.
The celebration around the reunion, when Klein played a large part in recruiting Johnson to Manhattan before he departed to become Texas A&M's offensive coordinator, has come and gone. The focus now shifts to the football field, where Klein will try to make up for lost time and elevate Johnson to the quarterback everyone thinks he can be.
At the end of their second spring camp together, their first since 2023, Klein spoke to the growth he saw in Johnson, particularly late in camp, when Johnson began to build better chemistry with his newer wide receivers.
"I think we've taken a little bit of a step here the last couple of days, but there's more out there," Klein said. "With his expectations in himself and all of us... There's more in us."
Kansas State freshman wide receiver Julius Wilson (16) walks in to practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore offensive lineman Gus Hawkins (70) works on a drill with sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Howard (72) during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State players run to positions during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State head coach Collin Klein slaps hands with senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State football players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State defensive lineman coach Buddy Wyatt watches players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State head coach Collin Klein fist bumps associate head and wide recievers coach Thad Ward during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) warms up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State senior quarterback Jacob Knuth (7) warms up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State tight ends coach Brian Lepak makes calls during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State defensive backs coach Jeremiah Johnson watches players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State running backs coach Cory Patterson runs with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State junior offensive lineman Tanner Morley (77) works on plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore quarterback Blake Barnett (3) throws a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State offensive lineman coach Mike Schmidt talks with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore defensive back Koy Beasley (0) works on plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State head coach Collin Klein walks the field during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State defensive tackles coach Jordan Dove talks with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State redshirt freshman safety RJ Collins (13) runs plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State senior defensive back Adrian Maddox (2) works through plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State freshman running back Tanner West (24) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) makes a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State quarterbacks coach Christian Ellsworth talks to players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) throws a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State junior tight end Will Anciaux (80) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore tight end Linkon Cure (0) walks to a position during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State senior running back Jay Harris (9) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State coach Collin Klein walks the field during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State sophomore wide receiver Ben Wheeler (27) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Kansas State defensive players work through drills during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.1 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State freshman wide receiver Julius Wilson (16) walks in to practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.1 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State freshman wide receiver Julius Wilson (16) walks in to practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.2 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore offensive lineman Gus Hawkins (70) works on a drill with sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Howard (72) during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.3 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State players run to positions during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.4 / 31Why Kansas State QB Avery Johnson decided to stay for Collin KleinKansas State head coach Collin Klein slaps hands with senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.5 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State football players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.6 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State defensive lineman coach Buddy Wyatt watches players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.7 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State head coach Collin Klein fist bumps associate head and wide recievers coach Thad Ward during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.8 / 31Where Avery Johnson wants to grow in final year at K-State under Collin KleinKansas State senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) warms up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.9 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State senior quarterback Jacob Knuth (7) warms up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.10 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State tight ends coach Brian Lepak makes calls during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.11 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State defensive backs coach Jeremiah Johnson watches players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.12 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State players warm up during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.13 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State running backs coach Cory Patterson runs with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.14 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State junior offensive lineman Tanner Morley (77) works on plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.15 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore quarterback Blake Barnett (3) throws a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.16 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State offensive lineman coach Mike Schmidt talks with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.17 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore defensive back Koy Beasley (0) works on plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.18 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State head coach Collin Klein walks the field during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.19 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State defensive tackles coach Jordan Dove talks with players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.20 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State redshirt freshman safety RJ Collins (13) runs plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.21 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State senior defensive back Adrian Maddox (2) works through plays during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.22 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State freshman running back Tanner West (24) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.23 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) makes a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.24 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State quarterbacks coach Christian Ellsworth talks to players during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.25 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State senior quarterback Avery Johnson (2) throws a pass during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.26 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State junior tight end Will Anciaux (80) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.27 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore tight end Linkon Cure (0) walks to a position during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.28 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State senior running back Jay Harris (9) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.29 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State coach Collin Klein walks the field during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.30 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State sophomore wide receiver Ben Wheeler (27) makes a catch during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.31 / 31A look inside Kansas State Wildcats football spring practiceKansas State defensive players work through drills during practice on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Johnson thought he had a "really good spring," noting that some days had their ups and downs, but appreciated the chance to grow. All he's concerned about is getting better each day and learning from mistakes.
The learning curve hasn't been too steep as he reacclimates to Klein's offense. During his four years at K-State, he's had four different offensive coordinators or co-offensive coordinators, along with three different quarterbacks coaches.
Johnson said the verbiage in Klein's offense is the only thing that has changed since his two years at Texas A&M, aside from a few new schemes.
"The offense has evolved, and it's been tough, but I think learning a whole new offense would be a lot harder," Johnson said. "It's been pretty good and pretty seamless for the most part."
New offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson has been in awe of Johnson's speed at the position, but has been pleasantly surprised by the quarterback's ability to move effectively within the pocket as a mobile quarterback; he hasn't seen Johnson be "skittish" and feel the need to take off and run unnecessarily.
Gleeson has still been able to see the play-making ability that makes Johnson one of the more explosive players at the position in college football.
"Avery does a really good job at being able to make explosive plays at quarterback and just subtly move and still be a thrower, even when there's some trash around his feet," Gleeson said. "I think he has a really cool balance of play-making ability and pocket movement that's needed when you want to be a great downfield thrower."
Johnson spoke of the enhanced freedom he'll have in Klein's offense, which he said he likes most. He'll get a chance to use his instincts and "not be robotic," allowing him to take off when he notices that he has room to run. At other times, he believes Klein will scheme up open plays as the "offensive mastermind" he thinks his coach is.
That should bode well for Johnson, who saw his numbers drop from 2024 to 2025, both on the ground and through the air. Meanwhile, Klein had Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed in the College Football Playoff, excelling as both a thrower and a runner.
Now that the celebration around the reunion has come and gone, it's all about making sure Johnson is in a position to lead the Wildcats on a possible CFP run.
"When it comes down to it, we need to do the little things right and play hard for all four quarters," Johnson said. "Anybody can beat anybody in this league, and we can't think anybody's gonna lay over us. We need to come down with the underdog mentality every game, not overlook anybody, and come out strong and start fast."
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Avery Johnson wants high expectations during final year at K-State