Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel knows he's the best

George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

When "Johnny Football" takes off, destination unknown, the reaction from Texas A&M's coaches is similar, probably, to everyone else's:

"Ohhh, nooo! – YEAH!" says Kevin Sumlin.

Meet Johnny Manziel, a Texas schoolboy legend who has taken control of the Aggies' offense as a redshirt freshman. Texas A&M is a surprising 5-1 headed into an unlikely SEC West showdown Saturday with LSU. And if no one seems sure how or why Manziel got the really cool nickname, they're also uncertain when or where this ride might end. It might all depend on which direction Manziel goes – and on every snap, no one really knows.

So far, though, they've enjoyed the results.

Already, the 6-1, 200-pounder has broken the SEC record for total offense in a game. Twice. His average of 392.7 yards is better than 47 teams. He ranks second nationally and leads the SEC in the category, as well as in rushing (112.7-yard average) and in points responsible for (24.0). Halfway through the season, he has 36 plays of at least 20 yards. Statistical comparisons to Cam Newton have begun to popup, as have whispers about the Heisman Trophy. (In this week's USA TODAY SportsMedia Group survey, Manziel ranked fifth.)

But to fully appreciate Manziel, you have to see for yourself all the scrambling and freelancing and what will he do next? Like his coaches, you need to wince, worry – and then shake your head and celebrate.

"He's always been that guy," Sumlin says, and he's right. For a fantastic five minutes, go to YouTube and click on Manziel's high-school highlights. But the surprise, perhaps, is that what worked at Kerrville (Texas)Tivy High School has translated to college football.

On one play against Arkansas, Manziel ran around the pocket, making a complete circle, before bolting upfield for a touchdown. Last weekend against Louisiana Tech, his 72-yard run – his third rushing TD, to go with three passing – with two minutes left put the game out of reach. We could keep going, but check the video; they're easier seen than described.

"He just excites people," says Julius Scott, who was Manziel's offensive coordinator in high school. "He spins around, reverses his field, ain't no telling what he's gonna do. It doesn't always work out, but it usually does."

Texas A&M hasn't made Manziel available for interviews; Sumlin's policy is to initially keep first-year players off-limits from media.Until then, Manziel's highlights have done all the talking, and have drawn admirers from all over.

"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.

"It seems like it would be a very good offense for him," says A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. "But we're very glad he's here."

Sumlin and Kingsbury, then at Houston, wanted Manziel – but not until after Kingsbury had driven to Kerrville to see him in person. That's what finally happened with Texas A&M, too. An assistant coach watched a game against San Antonio Madison, which had several FBS-level recruits, and saw Manziel attempt 75 passes.

"We actually attempted more," says Scott, the former KerrvilleTivy offensive coordinator, "but they flushed him out of the pocket and he had to run."

When A&M offered a scholarship, Manziel switched, Scott says, because it was closer to home. He redshirted last season. When the new coaching staff arrived on campus, Manziel was, according to A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, a "scout-team legend" who had given the varsity defense fits. And also, the previous coaches, who had to constantly remind Manziel to simply run the opponents' plays, to stay in the pocket, and not to freelance.

"We all knew he was a great athlete last year from watching him in scrimmages and practice," says former A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, now with the Miami Dolphins.

Manziel competed with Jameill Showers last spring to replace Tannehill. But his freewheeling ways led to crucial mistakes; coaches were concerned he wouldn't be reliable.

"He was just reckless and careless with the football," says Sumlin of spring practices. "He was running around and throwing it all over the place– and throwing it to the defense."

Then last June, Manziel was arrested after an altercation near an off-campus nightspot. He was charged with misdemeanors including disorderly conduct, failure to identify and possessing false I.D. He spent a night in jail. But Sumlin says Manziel admitted his mistake. And when fall practice rolled around, Manziel seemed to have matured on the field, as well, going through the prescribed passing reads and taking care of the football. As much as any of the spectacular highlights or superlative stats, Sumlin is impressed that Manziel didn't commit a turnover in his first four games. Although he's since thrown three interceptions, including a pick-six last week against Louisiana Tech, the positives have far outweighed the negatives.

The abstract art Manziel is likely to create on any snap keeps surprising everyone, "except him," Kingsbury says. Because quarterbacks aren't tackled during practices – standard operating procedure in most programs – the Aggies didn't really get a full picture of Manziel's capabilities until the season began.

"You couldn't see that extra dimension," Kingsbury says. "I don't think we really knew what we had until it was full-speed, full-go."

Those who know Manziel say he is fueled by a fierce competitive streak and exudes confidence that has magnetic appeal. Scott, the former Kerrville Tivy assistant, says Manziel has always believed he is the best player on any field. Colton Palmer, who was a senior starter at quarter back when Manziel was a sophomore Swiss Army knife – receiver, running back and quarterback – says he knew something was different the first day they practiced together.

"You could just feel it coming off him," Palmer says.

Kingsbury has noticed the same thing. The season opener against Louisiana Tech was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac, which meant Manziel's debut came against Florida, with the attending hoopla of A&M's first SEC game.

"I think everybody was afraid he might be going into too big of a stage," Kingsbury says. "But it was, 'This is my show.' There's a fearlessness about him I've never been around."

Kingsbury and Sumlin say they have seen steady progress. They've harped on making the routine plays – taking the easy, open pass rather than going for the home run, staying in the pocket instead of taking off. But they're also hesitant to rein in Manziel too much.

"From Game 1 to Game 6, it's night and day," Kingsbury says. "If he keeps improving like that, he has a chance to be very special."

What happens next? Here comes LSU, bringing its typical dominant defense. The stage keeps getting bigger, but so does the opportunity.

"He'll go in there," says Palmer, Manziel's former high school teammate, "knowing he's the best player on the field."