Kansas State football QB depth chart preview points to Avery Johnson as the ceiling, with Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff aiming to steady the floor

Kansas State’s quarterback picture is taking shape with a familiar offseason theme: identify the player who can raise the ceiling, then make sure there is enough security underneath to keep the offense functioning if the plan needs adjusting. In a recent depth chart look ahead to kickoff, Avery Johnson is described as the upside piece for the Wildcats, while Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff are presented as capable options meant to protect the “floor” if roles shift during camp and into the season.

The timing matters. The piece frames the calendar around the Wildcats’ approach to the first game on September 5, emphasizing that there are only a little over two weeks before Kansas State’s preseason planning meets the real test of live action. That creates a narrow window in which depth chart expectations can be discussed, debated, and revised, sometimes quickly, when the first meaningful work turns into game-week preparation.

According to the preview, the central evaluation is not only “who starts,” but what each quarterback profile is expected to bring to the offense at different moments. Johnson is positioned as the ceiling, suggesting a higher ceiling for production and playmaking potential. Barnett and Duff are framed as “both good enough to protect the floor,” implying that Kansas State does not need to gamble on one quarterback being perfect for the offense to stay on track.

This type of depth chart exercise also reflects how quarterback depth tends to become a season-long factor rather than a preseason footnote. Even when the starter is set, game plans can be influenced by performance in practice, package usage, and the staff’s comfort with each option’s decision-making and command of the offense. In that sense, Barnett and Duff are treated as more than backups, they are portrayed as insurance policies that preserve offensive continuity.

The article’s construction is also a reminder that preseason depth chart talk is inherently provisional. The author explicitly notes that any speculated depth chart will be “proven wrong” once Kansas State takes the field, underscoring that early projections are best read as educated guesses rather than firm declarations. That caveat is important for fans trying to interpret the quarterback hierarchy without overreacting to offseason labels.

For Kansas State, the quarterback room is not just about depth chart placement, it is about maintaining a reliable offensive identity across an entire season. When a team can pair a higher-upside starter with other quarterbacks who are described as capable of keeping the floor steady, it reduces the risk that one personnel shift forces a major scheme change. That matters for preparation, because it allows coaches to plan with fewer “what if” disruptions.

What to watch next is straightforward: the team’s actual preseason-to-regular-season progression, how Johnson’s role is confirmed at the top, and whether Barnett and Duff are trusted for meaningful snaps rather than merely waiting in the wings. With September 5 approaching, the quarterback conversation should move quickly from speculation to measurable evidence on the field.