Whether navigating a crowd or simply heading to his car, Avery Johnson stands out. The Kansas State quarterback sports distinctive curly golden hair, a feature he has maintained since kindergarten. On the field, those long strands tumble out from beneath his helmet, earning the attention of TV commentators even when he isn’t throwing deep passes or evading defenders.

Last fall, Johnson attracted a lot of attention in Manhattan, Kansas, driving a standout lavender Corvette that was part of a lucrative NIL deal with a local dealership. He has since traded it in for a more understated black Mercedes GT 63S AMG, stating, “It was a little more attention than I wanted to draw to myself,” when speaking to CBS Sports.

Unlike many of the top quarterbacks in his class, Johnson opted to remain with Kansas State. Seven of the top 10 quarterbacks from the 2023 recruiting class have switched schools, while more than 65% of the 26 standout quarterbacks (those rated four stars or higher) didn’t stick with their original teams. Johnson is one of the rare exceptions.

He received numerous recruitment calls, particularly after breaking Kansas State’s single-season touchdown passing record with 25 touchdowns last season. However, instead of exploring offers, he engaged in discussions about roster improvements with head coach Chris Klieman.

“Who could we bring in? What do we need? How can we secure a Big 12 title?” Johnson stated. Klieman remarked, “I never had to sit down and say, ‘Man, we need you to stay.’ I trusted him, he trusted us, and we were all aware of the situation.”

Thanks to recent recruitments, including five-star tight end Linkon Cure and Purdue transfer Jaron Tibbs, along with a fortified tight end group that collectively accounted for the most touchdowns in the nation last year, Johnson is now equipped with some of the best talent to support him in a decade. He even took on the role of recruiter, driving prospects around Manhattan in his flashy Corvette and convincing them of the bright future ahead.

Reflecting on this offseason, Johnson noted that he added muscle, reaching 200 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame, and recorded personal-best speeds in conditioning drills. In addition to his physical enhancement, he has learned to block out outside expectations, becoming more at ease with his playing style.

Regarding the upcoming matchup, Johnson asserted, “If we have to run the ball 60 times a game, we will. We need to play selflessly this year because we have all the pieces in place—the coaching staff, players, and support. We need to win those close games, especially in a tough league like Big 12, where competition is fierce.”

Kansas State opens its season against No. 22 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, where the Wildcats enter as 3-point favorites, offering them a valuable early advantage in a fiercely competitive Big 12 conference.