The “roster reset” article, which has been on hold for nearly a year, is finally getting the attention it deserves. Originally planned for the previous off-season, the project was delayed after I was involved in a car accident and spent the rest of the time recovering (a process that’s still ongoing).
The purpose of this series is to reset the Kansas State roster for the 2025-2026 season. Since the quarterback position is the most critical in football and the easiest to evaluate for the Wildcats, I’ll start with that.
K-State 2024-2025 Quarterback Stats
| Player | Games | Comp | Att | Comp % | Yds | TD | Int | Rushing Att | Yds | Y/A | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery Johnson | 13 | 217 | 372 | 58.3 | 2712 | 25 | 10 | 113 | 605 | 5.4 | 7 |
| Jacob Knuth | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Ta’Quan Roberson | 6 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Avery Johnson took over as the starter from current National Champion quarterback Will Howard in 2024. Despite dealing with injuries, Johnson handled nearly every snap. The team brought in veteran Ta’Quan Roberson for depth, along with Minnesota transfer Jacob Knuth, who saw action in two games. Freshman Blake Barnett redshirted.
K-State Quarterbacks Leaving
| Player | High School Class | Years In Program | Entered Program | Left Program | High School Rating | Previous School | Transfer In Rating | Transfer Out Rating | New Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ta’Quan Roberson | 2019 | 1 | Transfer | Transfer | 4* (90) | UConn | 3* (87) | 3* (86) | Buffalo |
Roberson, initially a one-year stopgap as insurance for Johnson, has moved on to Buffalo, seeking a starting role in his 7th year.
K-State Quarterbacks Arriving
| Player | High School Class | Years In Program | Entered Program | High School Rating | Previous School | Transfer In Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Duff | 2025 | 0 | Recruit | 3* (86) | N/A | N/A |
Dillon Duff, a late-blooming dual-threat recruit from St. Louis, arrives with a state championship under his belt. His development will focus on improving his pocket passing at Kansas State, though he’s expected to redshirt unless something unexpected happens.
K-State Quarterback Room for 2025-2026
| Player | High School Class | Classification | Years In Program | Entered Program | High School Rating | Previous School | Transfer In Rating | Home Town | Home State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery Johnson | 2023 | Jr. | 2 | Recruit | 4* (94) | N/A | N/A | Maize | Kansas |
| Jacob Knuth | 2022 | RS Jr. | 2 | Transfer | 3* (87) | Minnesota | 85 | Harrisburg | South Dakota |
| Blake Barnett | 2024 | RS Fr. | 1 | Recruit | 3* (88) | N/A | N/A | Erie | Colorado |
| Dillon Duff | 2025 | Fr. | 0 | Recruit | 3* (86) | N/A | N/A | Saint Louis | Missouri |
Avery Johnson is poised to secure the starting role for 2025. After a mixed 2024 season with some brilliant plays and costly interceptions, Johnson will need to sharpen his decision-making and accuracy to lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship. Anything less than that should be considered a disappointment.
Behind Johnson, there’s uncertainty. While Knuth and Barnett have the physical attributes for the job, neither has had enough time in the system to be evaluated fully. If Johnson misses significant time, the team will likely rely on the quarterback run game, which both Knuth and Barnett are well-equipped for.
One way to utilize the backups without risking Johnson’s health is in short-yardage situations, where Knuth and Barnett’s size and strength could be valuable. This strategy could become more common across college football.
Overall Outlook
To compete at a high level in college football, having a solid quarterback is crucial. Avery Johnson is expected to make significant progress between his sophomore and junior seasons, learning from his mistakes and improving his footwork. While there’s little experience behind him, one of the backups will likely step up, and Coach Klieman’s track record suggests that whoever it is, they’ll be successful. Ideally, the Wildcats won’t need to rely on them for another season or two, but the team is in a good position to succeed with Johnson at the helm.
