Texas A&M Aggies’ Johnny Manziel becomes first freshman to win Manning Award
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates with the trophy after a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2013 Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. The Aggies beat the Sooners 41-13. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Breaking News!
Johnny Manziel is really good at football!
We know, grab your smart phones, get in front of a computer, tweet it to everyone with an @ symbol and hashtag to spare. Heck, go ahead and go old school and print it out in actual newspapers — that way we can read about it again when the paper is actually printed tomorrow.
According to Fansided, Manziel continues to not only add to his trophy case, but to his legacy as one of the best freshmen to ever step onto a college football field. Not only was Johnny Football named the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy and headlined the First team All-America squad, but on Thursday he became the first frosh to ever be presented with the Manning Award. What’s more, Manziel becomes the first player ever presented as a unanimous winner of the award.
The award is presented (in no self-serving way whatsoever) by the Manning Family to the nation’s top quarterback.
“On behalf of my family, I would like to congratulate Johnny Manziel on his outstanding season,” Archie Manning said, according to the Times-Picayune. “It is very difficult for a young player to make the transition to college football, and Johnny not only made the transition seamlessly, he turned in the best year of any quarterback in the country. I would also like to thank the Allstate Sugar Bowl for all of its support and for creating this honor to recognize a great quarterback each year.”
A number of fantastic quarterbacks also made the list, but none of them came close to the moxie of Mr. Manziel. Johnny Football beat out fellow finalists Matt Barkley, Tajh Boyd, Collin Klein, Jordan Lynch, Marcus Mariota, AJ McCarron, Braxton Miller, Aaron Murray and Geno Smith to take home the honor.
Manziel finished the 2012 campaign with 3,706 passing yards, 1,410 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns. His 4,600 combined yards are an SEC record.
Yup, if you didn’t know by now, Johnny Football is crazy good at football.
