Ranking the most dominant Heisman campaigns of the last 25 years

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks, hoist the trophy after being named the 80th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner during the 2014 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Best Buy Theater on December 13, 2014 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 13: 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist Johnny Manziel, quarterback of the Texas A&M University Aggies, speaks to the media at the Marriott Marquis on December 13, 2013 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

12. Johnny Manziel

Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012, putting up some eye-popping statistics in the process.

A native of Tyler, Manziel was heavily recruited out of high school but did not receive an offer from the Texas Longhorns, choosing to join Texas A&M ahead of the 2011 season rather than pursue a baseball career. Head coach Mike Sherman was fired after the year while starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill left for the NFL, leaving Texas A&M’s quarterback depth chart in a state of uncertainty.

First-year head coach Kevin Sumlin named Manziel the starter following an impressive showing in spring football, a decision that would pay off handsomely. Manziel became a household name during an October upset of Alabama and finished his redshirt freshman campaign with 3,706 passing yards, 1,410 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns.

Heisman hype was largely on the side of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o throughout the season, but the Alabama game may have swung the race in Manziel’s favor. Manziel topped Te’o by 323 points and easily outclassed the rest of the quarterback field to become the first freshman Heisman Trophy winner in college football history.

A fifth-place finish in 2013 followed, and while Manziel’s football career would fall apart after that, he still enjoyed a memorable if not totally dominant Heisman run.

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