Kansas State QB Avery Johnson Done Solid Job Of Managing Time In Pocket

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There were times when Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson made bad decisions in the pocket. 

Sometimes, he would take off running to avoid the pass. There were others when he should have run but chose to pass. This season, the Wildcats feel they are seeing a perfect mix of Johnson running and passing. 

He is off to the best start of his three-year career as the starter. 

"So, I think he's managed those situations well to keep himself out of bad situations there," first-year coach Collin Klein said. 

Johnson gets another chance to prove himself Saturday against the Houston Cougars at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. 

Here's the game preview: 

What: No. 22 Houston Cougars at Kansas State Wildcats

When: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. 

Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas 

TV: Fox Sports 

Expected temperature: 89 degrees, sunny, zeri percent chance of rain 

Betting Line: Kansas State -2.5

VITALS: Despite defeating the UCF Knights last week, the Houston Cougars dropped two spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. They are now No. 22. The Cougars' only loss this season is to the defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech Red Raiders. They are led by quarterback Conner Weigman, who was playing for the Texas A & M Aggies when Kansas State coach Collin Klein was the offensive coordinator. The Cougars are one of two remaining ranked opponents for the Wildcats. The other is the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who play against UCF this weekend. Linebacker Jaden Yates is listed as out on the injury report for the second Big 12 game of the season for the Wildcats. He is dealing with a leg injury that occurred in the victory against the UCF Knights last week. Yates, who transferred from the Ole Miss Rebels this season, leads the Cougars with 29 tackles in his senior season. The Wildcats are coming off a 31-26 loss to the Cincinnati Bears in the Big 12 opener for both teams. They are playing without tight end Will Anciaux, who is out for the season with a lower leg injury. They are also without backup quarterback Blake Barnett while quarterback Dillon Duff is listed as questionable. If Duff is unable to go, the Wildcats will only have starter Avery Johnson available at quarterback. Kansas State is going for its first 4-1 start since 2024, the first year of the Johnson era. 

QUOTABLE: 

K-State coach Collin Klein on Houston: "Well, they're really, really good in situational football. They're very, very fundamentally sound. They have a top-10 rush defense, and that doesn't happen unless you are a good tackling football team and play incredibly hard. They don't beat themselves. They stay on schedule on offense. They're the No. 1 third-down team in the country, and they keep themself and manageable, and do a really, really nice job there."

QUOTABLE II: 

Houston Cougars Willie Fritz on quarterback Conner Weigman and his relationship with Klein: "I'm sure (Klein) understands the different things (Weigman does). I called him before we brought Conner over here and he had nothing but great things to say about him."

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