ASU defense may catch a break with Kansas State’s Avery Johnson reportedly out
Johnson, who has started 32 straight games for Kansas State, has 1,763 total yards, 13 total touchdowns and three interceptions on 63.1% passing this season.
Watch: Exclusive: Kenny Dillingham talks Arizona State offense under starting QB Mikey Keene | 10 mins
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson has been ruled out for Saturday’s game at Arizona State, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He’d been downgraded to doubtful on Friday’s Big 12 availability report after he was questionable the previous two days.
Johnson’s absence 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.
ASU will also 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.
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.
Related
ASU AD Graham Rossini embraces 24-team College Football Playoff shift
Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic returns for 2nd year
ASU football picks up pair of 2027 commitments
Expanded CFP could change how teams build rosters and schemes, Kenny Dillingham says
Kickoff time announced for ASU-Oklahoma State, other Big 12 gamesCFP will expand to 24 teams, last Big 12 title game will take place in 2026
Comments
3 Comments
unlike others who are celebrating this kid's injury, its really sad to me that we have to catch a break to possibly win against kansas state. not only that, i wanted to see the kid play.
we have a quarterback problem too by the way.
I agree, this has to be good news for ASU. We still need to protect Keene and open running lanes for the backs...it all starts on the O Line. With defense, just tackle...first guy to the ball carrier needs to wrap up and not give them an extra 5-8 yds every play due to miss tackles. ASU wins 34-14.
Devils are going to smoke K-State, especially without Avery, as he's a veteran with the ability to get away from the pass rush. Knock this one out, and start prepping for BYU. 27-13 F.