What Does the Manti Te’o Story Say About Us?


Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Let me preface this piece by saying that I am not a Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan. In fact, I pretty much hate Notre Dame (although the movie Rudy was a good one). With this being said, I am not happy about the Manti Te’o saga. I think it is a sad world we live [...]

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Manti Te’o Not Helping Case By Staying Silent


Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

If you have been following social media, or any media for that matter over the last 24-hours, you have become completely aware of the Manti Te’o situation. The news about his fake deal girlfriend on Wednesday, first reported by Deadspin, sent a shock wave through the sports news world. At first when the news broke, I was [...]

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An Open Letter from Johnny Football to Texas A&M Nation


Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

(Please note… this is not in anyway related to any opinion of Johnny Manziel or any statement Mr. Manziel or the Texas A&M Aggies have made… to our knowledge…)   Dear Aggie Football Nation: I want to take a few moments to discuss what it means to be Johnny Football so that you may better [...]

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Texas A&M Calls Timeout on Johnny Football’s Off-the-field Exploits


Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Manziel‘s girlfriend might be as attractive as A.J. McCarron‘s, but if she was at the AT&T Cotton Bowl, no one noticed. They were all too busy watching Texas A&M‘s Heisman Trophy winner score four touchdowns and set a bowl record with 516 yards of total offense. Manziel was unstoppable all season, passing for 3,706 yards and [...]

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Five Reasons Johnny Manziel Will Get a Second Heisman Trophy


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Five Reasons Johnny Manziel Wins Another Heisman

JM
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

History. It is made, broken, repeated, and misunderstood with great regularity. In the forum of college football there is great reverence for the echos of the past and how they appear in present form. For Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel history was something to made.

Captivating audiences since his days as a prep star in tiny Kerrville, Texas, Manziel was overlooked by his childhood favorite program. For the Texas Longhorns, 6'1" 200 pound quarterbacks aren't high on their recruiting list.

Known for his athletic ability and creativity on the field, a wide open offensive mind in the Northwest was intrigued by Manziel. Chip Kelly, head coach of the Oregon Ducks, was able to secure a verbal commitment from the quarterback. That lasted until Manziel caught to the eye of Texas' in-state rival. Seeing a chance to stay in Texas, Manziel broke his commitment to the Ducks and turned his sights toward College Station.

Some wild moments, a gigantic upset, and a few seemingly impossible plays later, the redshirt freshman took home the stiff-armed trophy. Johnny "Football" can now be affectionately referred to as Johnny "Heisman." But will there be another?

Mr. Manziel has already made history as being the lone freshman to walk out of New York with the most famous individual award in college football. Will he do it again? Only Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin has won the award twice. With three years of eligibility left, certainly Manziel can match or maybe surpass Mr. Griffin, can he not?

Here are the five reasons Johnny Manziel will be awarded yet another Heisman Trophy.

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James Gomez is a Pac-12 and Mountain West columnist for Rant Sports and member of the Football Writers Association of America. You can follow James on Twitter.

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5. He's a mobile quarterback

JM
Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Let us be honest here. There are a lot of incredibly talented college football players everywhere you look. But this is the Heisman Trophy. We can safely eliminate non-quarterback and non-running backs from serious discussion. Defensive players can be just as important but this award is reserved for runners and passers. Johnny is both which gives him a leg up on the competition. Stats matter when differentiating between candidates, and a quarterback with passing and rushing yards on his resume', just plain looks good.

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4. He plays in the SEC

JM
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Southeastern Conference. An ultimate proving ground for programs and players who want to build their college football "street cred." Dominating down South will earn plenty of attention among writers from all corners of the nation. Four of the past six Heisman winners are from SEC schools. As the conference racks up championships, the golden award is joining in the fun.

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3. He is a household name

JM
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Name recognition is a nice asset to have coming into a season. Before the first game kicks off, the Heisman front-runners are debated and ranked in the order of who is most deserving. Sure there are winners that come out of nowhere (Manziel included), but early hype can put a player in position to impress from day one. Plus playing in the SEC gives Manziel plenty of prime-time opportunities for East Coast writers to see his work. If writers don't know who you are, you won't get any recognition. Manziel does not have that problem anymore.

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2. He has three seasons left

JM
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike any other player that has come before him, Manziel has three more years where he can bring a Heisman back to Aggieland. Manziel also has three seasons to continue to improve. Another stellar season is very likely considering his ability. If this is what the young quarterback can accomplish as a redshirt freshman, what can he do as a four year junior? I'm guessing other SEC schools don't want to think about it. Maybe Manziel leaves early for the draft. At his size, he isn't likely to be a top pick. Playing three more years is highly likely.

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1. He's just really good

JM
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Clearly there are plenty of circumstantial reasons for Manziel to receive another stiff-armed trophy. How about the most obvious; the kid is really good at playing football. From a toddler to a college quarterback in a major conference, Manziel has always found ways to impress all who witness his athletic ability. Described by some as jazz on a football field, Johnny "Football" or Johnny "Heisman" or Johnny "Whatever", the kid is flat out talented. What more reason could you need?

Johnny Manziel Heisman Podium

2013 NFL Mock Draft by Dr. G. 20 College Football programs heading in the wrong direction. Top 20 Heisman Trophy winners in NCAA history.

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Johnny Manziel: You Can Call Him “Johnny Heisman”


Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

  A few weeks ago, college football’s highest honor, the Heisman Trophy, was given to Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M Aggies, or “Johnny Football” as he has been referred to over this season. Personally, I picked Collin Klein of the Kansas St. Wildcats back in October to win it and I just couldn’t turn [...]

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Nebraska Football: Taylor Martinez Will be a Heisman Favorite in 2013


Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2012 Heisman winner already announced, the 2013 Heisman talks have already begun. One name that may not be on many people’s radars, but definitely should, is Taylor Martinez of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Although Martinez has been highly criticized because of his unorthodox throwing motion and his tendency to play poorly in big games, [...]

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Rant Teams Up With Verizon Wireless Offering A Chance of a Lifetime


Verizon-Wireless

Rant Sports  is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to offer one of our lucky fans the chance of a lifetime. We’re giving away four tickets, a $500 gift card and an exclusive hospitality event to one winner for the 2013 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl featuring Northwestern vs. Mississippi State in Jacksonville, Florida. To enter, Just simply visit www.rantsports.com/videos/ [...]

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Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel Delivers Top Ten List with David Letterman


Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is having a pretty good past week, and that may even be an understatement. Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman trophy on Saturday night after the dual-threat signal-caller finished third in the SEC in rushing yards and led in touchdowns catapulted A&M to a 10-2 record and [...]

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Will Manziel Suffer From College Football’s ‘Tebow Effect?’


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It’s been a tremendous few days for Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel. Being named the first freshman Heisman Trophy winner in the award’s history was refreshing to see, and that honor was well-deserved. The problem is that he’s going to be walking a very fine line for the remainder of his collegiate career, especially [...]

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