If Johnny Football is so great, why...

[GatorMan32]

Yep it was Oregon:

"You're not coaching that," Oregon coach Chip Kelly says. "But if a guy has that kind of ability, you're not gonna tell him to stop. He just goes… He's fun to watch.

"He's great for football."

Kelly pays attention in part because Manziel might have been a Duck. He originally committed to Oregon, back when despite the mind-blowing statistics and highlights, none of the major programs in Texas was interested in him playing quarterback. Even now, people wonder unsolicited, what it might have looked like, Manziel running wild in the Ducks' wacky uniforms.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...as-am/1637151/

[Friedchickenman]

Star rankings don't mean as much as people want to believe they do but it does help to have the more talented players, so long a they're developed properly and don't quit/not academically qualify. It's a fair argument to say that the top 10 teams, all have a top 10 coaching staff in means of how they develop and train their players. Alabama, for instance recruits better then anyone, but there's no argument either that their coaching staff is the best in the country, and it's no coincidence that they play at an elite level above all of the other teams in college football right now because of it. Manziel may have only been a 3 star out of high school, but Kevin Sumlin is an offensive genius of a head coach (just look at the numbers Houston put up when he was there), do you think Manziel would have those kinds of numbers with a pro style offense or one that doesn't run the QB out of the spread? I don't think so.

[boxvic]

I think star rankings are generally pretty good... but they are also easily manipulated (not really intentionally) by the guys who cover the larger areas. There are a ton of high school players out there, and the ones in more visible areas get rated higher because they are seen more.

Take the situation of Morgan Newton versus Randall Cobb. Newton played at a bigger school in a bigger area with a lot more media attention. He came in as a consensus 4 star recruit with a few outlier 5 star rankings. Cobb played at a smaller school in a smaller area. He came in as a consensus 3 star recruit with a few outlier 2 star rankings.

Newton turned out to be one of the worst QBs in SEC history (could have been one helluva TE though if Joker Phillips hadn't destroyed the kids career), and Cobb turned out to be one the greatest playmakers in SEC history.

[Dr.SwineSmeller]

I am a big Johnny Football fan.

I love kids who just have that natural ability to play the game.

[ButtHurt]

he doesn't fit the 6 foot four, bullet arm requirements of the blue-blood programs. Mack Brown recruited him for safety. After he tackled two La Tech defenders after two fumbles on the same play, I wish he was playing safety and QB.

[Carolina Razorback]

he doesn't fit the 6 foot four, bullet arm requirements of the blue-blood programs. Mack Brown recruited him for safety. After he tackled two La Tech defenders after two fumbles on the same play, I wish he was playing safety and QB.

Couldn't wait until Nov 23rd?

[AgCMT]

Yeah, we lucked out I suppose. As far as recruiting in the Big 12, we were second to Texas for Texas recruits. We would win a head-to-head on occasion, but they typically got who they wanted. It wasn't always that way. We got ours up until the mid to late 90's. Every other school in Texas was/is not a factor. We have always been about even with OU in recruiting, but in our down years they would pull some big names out of Texas.

With our recent success most believe A&M is getting back on par and even surpassing Texas. I think you will see us rated much higher than them this year for obvious reasons. Fran steered us in a bad situation for several years. It set our program back a decade or so. Sherman righted the ship, and he recruited Manziel (JFF). Sumlin has sparked a fire in our recruiting that we have not ever seen. The names that are visiting and showing interest would be program changers should they jump on board.

We are getting back to our West Texas roots and dipping our foot in the Louisiana pool. So, LSU has always and will always be stiff competition for us. They usually get who they want in there home state. We do pick up a name or two...but usually because they pass.

To answer the OP, Manziel was originally committed to Oregon. He had a good relationship with our coach and he never gave up on him. He switched towards the end and never looked back. Texas wanted him as a DB or Safety and from the tackle he made at the LaTech game, he might have been a good one. No other school in the Big 12 was ever a threat...even if they wanted him.

His play this year has been a surprise to everyone. It took most people a couple of games to really buy into him. Now he's a legend among Aggie fans. Most, if not all, of us expected Showers to start. Showers is a solid QB and it was a close call as to would start. Manziel took the opportunity and the rest his history.