After being promoted to offensive coordinator for the Kansas State Wildcats, Matt Wells finds himself with the rare opportunity to coach a dual-threat quarterback like Avery Johnson.
On Friday, Wells sat down for an interview with KSNT’s Landon Reinhardt and provided an incredible quote about the future of his star quarterback.
“He’ll play on Sunday,” Wells said. “But he’s got a lot of work to do before then. He’ll be the first to tell you, and that’s not a negative thing. That’s a growth thing. We’ve got to continue to grow and push the limits for him physically. Keep gaining weight, keep getting stronger, but also mentally.”
Johnson took over at Kansas State in 2024 with some incredibly lofty expectations. One of the highest-ranked recruits in program history, Johnson stepped in as a sophomore and led the team to a 9-4 finish, capped off by a win over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl.
In his first full season at the helm, the Kansas native posted 3,317 total yards, a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-10, and a top 45 QBR in the nation. In addition to his solid numbers, Johnson broke the Kansas State school record for single-season passing touchdowns of 24, previously held by Will Howard, with 25 of his own.
Wells finished his thoughts, saying, “This dude wants it. We’re just going to fail our way to the top. We’re going to screw up sometimes, we’re going to mess up, and then we’re going to vow to never let that happen again and continue to grow.”
