ASU defense may catch a break with Kansas State’s Avery Johnson downgraded to doubtful

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson was downgraded to doubtful on Friday’s Big 12 availability report for Saturday’s game at Arizona State after he was questionable the previous two days.

If Johnson can’t go, it may provide a boost to an ASU defense that has sorely needed one in conference play. It allowed 101 combined points to its last two opposing Big 12 offenses, Baylor and Texas Tech.

Johnson has accounted for all but six of the 193 pass attempts by Kansas State players through six games. He has 1,763 total yards, 13 total touchdowns and three interceptions on 63.1% passing.

He has started 32 straight games for Kansas State, a streak that is rarely seen in college football these days, especially at the quarterback position.

Kansas State lists fifth-year quarterback Jacob Knuth or sophomore Dillon Duff as Johnson’s backup. Knuth has appeared in three games this season but has only attempted one pass, while Duff has not played yet this year.

A final Big 12 availability report distinguishing between available, game-time decision and out will be posted on Saturday about 90 minutes before the 12:45 p.m. MST kickoff.

ASU knows it will be going with a new starting quarterback, as Kenny Dillingham confirmed to Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta that Mikey Keene will get his first start for the Sun Devils.

The sixth-year quarterback has 1,211 college pass attempts after playing two seasons at UCF, two seasons at Fresno State and a redshirt year at Michigan.

The ASU side of the availability report includes a few notable offensive linemen — center Wade Helton (doubtful) and tackles Filiva’a “Suka” Lokotui (probable) and Luke Baklenko (doubtful) — but Dillingham said Wednesday he expects everyone who played the week before to be good for this week.

That would leave all but Baklenko cleared. Expect Makua Pule to be the starting center if Helton can’t go.

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