Johnny Manziel is college football's current biggest star. After a breakout 2012 season, he will enter next season as one of the most talked about athletes to step on the field. But is next year the last time Manziel will sport a college uniform? After becoming something of an icon, Manziel says he will not turn down an opportunity to enter the NFL as early as possible.
In an interview with ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Manziel said that it has always been his dream to be a quarterback in the National Football League and he really would not rule out the option to leave College Station early to reach his goal.
"You never know how things might play out. If an opportunity comes to go to the NFL, you have to look at that just like you have to look at everything," Manziel said.
Before Aggies fans begin to panic, under NFL rules Manziel still has to play another year of college football, but 2014 could be another question. Manziel must first prove that he is not just a one season success story. He has a lot of expectations now placed on him that he must first try and live up to. Everything he does for the next year will be placed under a microscope. NFL scouts are already buzzing about what Manziel's NFL potential looks like.
"For me, the NFL is the thing that's always been, kind of somewhat like the Heisman, it's been a dream as a kid to be able to have an opportunity to even be talked about being able to play in the NFL. For me I'm enjoying my time here for sure and if that comes calling, just like anybody else, the decision will have to be made," Manziel said.
2012 saw Manziel become the new face of college football. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy back in December. He recorded 5,116 yards of total offense, an SEC record. He helped lead Texas A&M to their first 11-win season since 1998. He also earned a Cotton Bowl-record 516 total years in the Aggies' 41-13 win over Oklahoma, including an FBS bowl record for quarterbacks with 229 yards rushing on 17 carries. If Manziel can produce those kinds of numbers in 2013, his draft stock will only continue to rise.
Manziel stresses that he is still enjoying his time at Texas A&M and that he is very happy with the team and the program. Spring practice for the Aggies begins Saturday.
