Collin Klein: Avery Johnson is growing as unbeaten Kansas State opens Big 12 play at Cincinnati

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Avery Johnson already was stewing in the Kansas State locker room when word came that lightning had prolonged halftime.

This was a couple of weeks ago, during a game against Washington State, and the senior quarterback had spoiled what was otherwise a brilliant first half for the Wildcats by throwing an interception that was returned 50 yards for a touchdown as time expired.

“Probably the worst scenario ever,” he recalled. “You throw a pick-six right before halftime, then you get a weather delay.”

It was then that first-year Kansas State coach Collin Klein pulled Johnson aside.

Few know better than Klein what Johnson was going through. He played quarterback for the Wildcats, too, leading them to the Fiesta Bowl and earning a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Klein also threw a few interceptions in his day, so he understood better than most how easy it is to beat yourself up when one is returned for a touchdown.

“There's only so much you can say,” Johnson said, “but I mean, he helped me out. He reassured me. He told me I was doing some things well on third down, doing some things with my feet well, and I still had a whole other half of football to play.”

Once the storm swept through, a refocused Johnson led Kansas State through a near-flawless second half to a 34-7 victory, part of a perfect start to the season for the 3-0 Wildcats, who suddenly look like a dark-horse contender for the College Football Playoff.

They open the Big 12 season Saturday night at Cincinnati, then return home to face No. 25 Houston. But those might be the toughest games left on the schedule for the Wildcats, whose charmed luck has them avoiding regular-season games against ninth-ranked BYU, No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 15 Utah — the three highest-ranked Big 12 teams in the latest AP Top 25.

If the Wildcats want to reach the conference title game and put themselves in the mix for the automatic playoff berth, a lot of it will depend on how Johnson plays the rest of the way. The once-heralded in-state recruit has epitomized a rollercoaster ride through his first two seasons as a starter, but with Klein now by his side, he just may be tapping into his huge potential.

It was Klein, after all, who helped land Johnson at Kansas State a few years ago, back when he was the Wildcats' offensive coordinator. When coach Chris Klieman suddenly retired late last year, Klein came back to replace him after a two-year stint leading the offense at Texas A&M, a move welcomed not just by a fan base that always loved him but a quarterback already familiar with him.

Johnson and Klein's close relationship is already paying off with results.

Johnson opened the season by throwing for 199 yards and accounting for four touchdowns in a win over Nicholls. He threw for 192 yards and a couple of scores against Washington State. And last week against Tulane, he became the first player in school history to throw for at least 200 yards and run for at least 150 yards in a 31-20 victory.

“I've been really pleased with Avery,” Klein said. “No one is going to be harder on him than me, and no one's going to (better) see how high his ceiling is than us in this building. I think he's really, really growing, and doing some really, really nice things.”

Nice might be an understatement. Johnson is doing things even his coach never did.

His career-high 152 yards rushing against the Green Waver were more than any of the 100-yard rushing games that the similarly dual-threat Klein had during his playing days. Johnson already has thrown 54 touchdown passes, a school record, and will soon pass Lynn Dickey and move into third in the Kansas State record book for career passing yardage.

“I know Avery. That's been my boy forever,” Wildcats safety Wesley Fair said, “and so I know he can go out there and make the big plays. And I've seen him do it before. And I'm going to see him do it again. Like, he's just one of those dudes.”

Johnson's superb play and Klein's leadership has the Kansas State offense humming. The Wildcats are averaging more than 490 yards per game — their most in a Big 12 era stretching back three decades — and they're averaging 45.3 points per game.

As Johnson has soared, so have the Wildcats. And both are leaving folks at Kansas State wondering what is possible.

“There are things out there for him," Klein said. “He knows that and we know that.”

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