Will Howard opens up on how he is handling QB situation with Avery Johnson

A year ago, Will Howard took over for Adrian Martinez as Kansas State quarterback and helped lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 title. It was a breakout season for Howard, who returned as the likely starter once again.

But Howard could find himself on the other side of the conversation. K-State has also played freshman Avery Johnson, and he’s made some big plays — including five rushing touchdowns against Texas Tech. There are questions about which player will wind up the long-term starter.

From a leadership perspective, Howard said he’s letting things play out however they will while focusing on the task at hand, which is winning football games.

“As a leader, you’ve got to stay neutral,” Howard told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “No matter what happens, you can’t let anything off the field or personal get in the way of being a leader. I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of that. Obviously, the situation is what it is. At this point, I’ve just got to control what I can control and when I’m in there, just do all I can to help our team get a win.”

Through eight games this season, Howard has totaled 1,628 yards and 14 passing touchdowns to help Kansas State to a 6-2 record. Last week was his biggest performance yet as he completed 15 of 17 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns to help the Wildcats to a convincing 41-0 victory. Johnson came in to go 5-for-6 for 46 yards and a passing touchdown, as well.

While Howard has started every game so far, Chris Klieman has been non-committal about the starting quarterback and has opted to split snaps between the two.

The question is more about which player has the higher ceiling. Howard proved he can compete at a high level last year, but Johnson’s record-setting day against Texas Tech is obviously part of the conversation. The former four-star recruit came in as the No. 104 overall prospect and No. 9-ranked quarterback from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Considering all Howard has done for the program, the decision at quarterback becomes even tougher, K-State Online’s Derek Young said last month. It’s one of the storylines to follow as Kansas State heads to Austin to take on Texas for a Saturday showdown at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.