1. Johnny Manziel (2012-2013)
“Oh my gracious! How about that?” The now-famous quote from CBS broadcaster Vern Lundquist does a pretty great job of summing up Johnny Football’s career. The most dynamic QB the Aggies have ever had (every play on his highlight reel is #SCTop10 worthy), Johnny Manziel was the perfect person to lead the team into the SEC.
Racking up incredible numbers – 3,706 passing yards, 1,410 rushing yards, and a 68.0 percent completion percentage in 2012, just to name a few – Manziel became the first freshman in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy. He led the Aggies to two consecutive bowl wins – a 41-13 thrashing of former Big XII foe Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl and an incredible 52-48 comeback win over Duke in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl.
The Aggies finished the 2012 season ranked 5th in the AP poll, the highest finish since finishing 8th in 1994. Besides winning the Heisman, Manziel was named the 2012 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, won the 2012 Manning Award and Davey O’Brien Award, was named a Consensus All-American, and was named the 2012 AP Player of the Year.
Just about the only things Johnny Manziel did not do in his brief college career was win a national championship and become only the second person ever (after Ohio State great Archie Griffin) to win back to back Heisman Trophy’s. Manziel’s career isn’t just special for Aggies, he will forever be remembered as one of the most exciting players to ever play the game.