2024 Recap

Kansas State has been a well-oiled machine in six years with Chris Klieman as head coach. The Wildcats have won at least eight games in five of those campaigns, and the only outlier was the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Kansas State is now coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons, and it’s fair to expect much of the same in 2025. The program is built on toughness, both in its run game and defense. The latter features the best linebacker unit in the Big 12. Quarterback Avery Johnson and running back Dylan Edwards will lead the rushing attack, and Johnson’s development as a passer will determine the Wildcats’ true ceiling.

Biggest Strength: The middle of the defense

Kansas State has a top-10 linebacker unit in college football, headlined by a top-five linebacker in junior Austin Romaine. The Wildcats also added Arizona safety transfer Gunner Maldonado, who battled injuries this past season but earned a 77.1 PFF overall grade in 2023.

Biggest Weakness: Will the passing game improve?

Avery Johnson is back at quarterback, but he ranked just 60th among FBS quarterbacks with in PFF passing grade (72.9) as a sophomore. The Wildcats also brought back their top receiver, Jayce Brown, but the team earned the fifth-worst PFF receiving grade in the Power Four last year (61.0). 

Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions

Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses

T Carver Willis (Washington): 65.8 PFF Grade

WR Keagan Johnson (New Mexico): 61.7 PFF Grade

QB Ta’Quan Roberson (Buffalo): 54.4 PFF Grade

â–¶ Watch: Kansas State Football 2025 Season Preview: Will They Win The Big 12?

Quarterback Spotlight: Avery Johnson

2024 Grade: 81.1

Key Stat: 17 play-action pass TDs (fourth most in FBS)

Overview: Johnson played a part-time role in 2023 before taking over as Kansas State’s starter this past season. His dual-threat abilities quickly became the foundation of the Wildcats’ offense, and he posted a solid 81.1 PFF overall grade in 2024. Given Kansas State’s solid run game and defense, Johnson should be able to keep the Wildcats in Big 12 contention, especially if he improves further as a passer.

Strengths: Johnson excels in all of the right places for Kansas State’s offense to maintain its relatively high floor. His 81.7 PFF rushing grade and 31 explosive runs last season were both top-15 marks among qualified quarterbacks. His blazing speed is a constant threat in the option game and when scrambling. True to form, Johnson also excels as a play-action passer. His 83.9 play-action PFF passing grade was a top-25 mark in the nation, and only three players threw more play-action touchdowns than Johnson’s 17.

Weaknesses: As was the case for Will Howard before him, Johnson hasn’t proven to be nearly as efficient a passer in the dropback game. His 62.6 PFF passing grade without play action ranked him outside the top 100 qualified FBS passers in 2024. Part of the issue is a mechanical throwing motion that doesn’t allow Johnson to make enough accurate passes. More than 25% of his throws last year were charted as uncatchable.

Avery Johnson: Metrics Swipe (2023-24)

Offensive Player Spotlight: RB Dylan Edwards

Now that DJ Giddens is with the Indianapolis Colts, Edwards will take over as the lead back for Kansas State this season. The Colorado transfer impressed as Giddens’ backup in 2024, averaging 4.15 yards after contact per attempt. The only Big 12 back who averaged more yards after contact on at least 70 attempts was Giddens. What Edwards lacks in size (5-foot-9 and 167 pounds), he makes up for with game-breaking speed. 

Snaps
PFF Grade
PFF WAA

232
73.0
-0.00

207th
N/A
119th


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Defensive Player Spotlight: LB Austin Romaine

Romaine was the Power Four’s highest-graded linebacker as just a true sophomore, earning a 91.0 mark in 2024. His 90.7 PFF run-defense grade (third best) powered that mark, and his 43 run-defense stops were the fourth most among Power Four linebackers.

Romaine is a prototypical Mike linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, and he is excellent at beating blockers before they can get a clean shot on him.

Snaps
PFF Grade
PFF WAA

621
90.8
0.25

142nd
2nd
11th


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Bottom Line

If Avery Johnson can take the next step as a passer, Kansas State can win its second Big 12 championship in four years and clinch a College Football Playoff spot.