Avery Johnson, a sophomore quarterback for the Kansas State Wildcats, is one of the best young signal-callers in college football and apparently a very attentive one, too.
On Wednesday, Johnson launched a campaign that combines his play on the field with his high school principal’s support in raising funds for cancer treatments.
According to the campaign website, Dr. Chris Botts, principal of Maize High School in Kansas, was first diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2022 before being declared cancer-free a few months later.
However, in early 2023, he was diagnosed again and is now participating in a clinical trial because he has exhausted all chemotherapy options.
However, participating in the study means that he has to fly to Houston, Texas every week.
Avery Johnson’s fundraiser
Johnson’s goal is to raise money for every touchdown Botts scores through the end of the season. The quarterback is asking people to donate a certain amount of money for every touchdown he scores.
For the remainder of the season, pledges will be made each month based on the number of touchdowns Johnson scores in the previous month.
The campaign website gives the following example: If someone pledges $10 and Johnson scores 10 touchdowns in October, the pledge will become a $100 donation on November 15.
As part of the campaign launch, Johnson released a video on Wednesday (X) in which he tells Botts about the campaign.
“We know you’re battling cancer… funding is very expensive and you’ve never asked anyone for help. So I want to dedicate this season first and foremost to you and help raise money for you,” Johnson told Botts.
Johnson continued to tell Botts, “I just want you to know how much I appreciate you and how excited I am. It’s really motivating for me, just how strong you are, and I just want you to know that you don’t have to go through this battle alone. You have a lot of people who care about you.”
In response, Botts said, “I’m speechless… Avery, what I love about you is that you’ve remained the same person. Not that you don’t grow and change, but you’re still the same person to this day that you were as a freshman.”
“You’re humble and you carry yourself in a way that makes me damn proud of you. I’m proud of who you are and that I’ve had the opportunity to be your principal and watch you grow. And the fact that you’re willing to do this for me is… I don’t even know what to say, but thank you. It touches me deeply and I think you better start scoring some touchdowns.”
Johnson said, “I know. I have to. I’m going to score a lot of touchdowns for you.”
Who is Avery Johnson?
Johnson, a four-star recruit coming out of high school, chose to stay home during college and play for Kansas State instead of fellow finalists Oregon and Washington.
Johnson played sporadically as a freshman in 2023 before making his first start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after the Wildcats’ usual starting QB, Will Howard, entered the transfer portal.
In that game, Johnson completed 14 of 31 passes for 178 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 71 yards and another touchdown on seven carries.
In his three appearances so far this season for the undefeated and 13th-ranked Wildcats, Johnson has completed 43 of 67 passes for 490 yards with six touchdowns and one interception, while also recording 187 rushing yards on 28 carries.
