Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday, wrapping up a spectacular two seasons in which he became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy and helped the Aggies make a splash in their first two years in the Southeastern Conference. He set the SEC single-season total offense record by accounting for 5,116 yards.
Widely projected as a first-round draft selection, Manziel is coming off his second productive season as the Aggies' quarterback. He threw for 7,820 yards and 63 touchdowns while rushing for 2,169 yards and 30 more scores over his two-year career at Texas A&M.
In a statement released through Texas A&M, Manziel said it wasn't an easy decision to make.
"After long discussions with my family, friends, teammates, and coaches, I have decided to make myself available for the 2014 NFL draft," Manziel said. "The decision was not an easy one, but we all felt this was the right time to make the next step toward a professional career. My experiences here and the support of this school, coach [Kevin] Sumlin, chancellor [John] Sharp, my teammates, my classmates and Aggie football fans everywhere will be something that I carry with me for the rest of my life. I'll always be an Aggie."
