The hype around former Texas A&M Aggies and current Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Johnny Manziel has been incredible.
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As a redshirt freshman, Manziel turned the Aggies around despite moving from the Big 12 to the SEC. He led the Aggies to an 11-2 record, including a victory over then top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, who eventually went on to win the National Championship. Manziel went on to win the Heisman Trophy and began to have his every move covered and scrutinized.
Whether Manziel was attending concerts and meeting Drake, sitting courtside at Dallas Maveircks games, chatting it up with LeBron James or even throwing out first pitches, recreating his famous touchdown pass against the Tide, he was seemingly criticized every step of the way. Manziel was even suspended for the first half of the Aggies’ season opener last year. After that, Manziel picked up where he left off. Although he didn’t run the ball nearly as often as he did in 2012 and the Aggies went just 9-4 in 2013, Manziel was an even better passer in 2013, showing off his NFL ability.
As the draft approached, Manziel, as expected, became the most polarizing prospect available and along with former South Carolina Gamecocks’ defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, was the poster boy for the event.
Manziel was selected with the 22nd-overall pick in the first round of the Cleveland Browns and the hype train has continued to roll. In fact, on Wednesday, ESPN threw up a graphic showing Manziel’s travel schedule.
The hype may hit new heights soon – only Brian Hoyer, who is coming off of a torn ACL, stands in the way of Manziel and the starting job in Cleveland.