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Tim Tebow on Johnny Manziel: ‘I like his swag’

It's official: New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow officially likes "Johnny Football."

The story of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has become one of the biggest stories of the college football season and like Tebow, is starting to build a fan base around the country. Manziel has become a Heisman candidate over the past few weeks, and no game bolstered his image more than last Saturday's dramatic Aggies road win over then-No. 1 Alabama.

It was a game that Tebow, a former winner of the Heisman -- and as such, a Heisman voter -- watched in his hotel room in Seattle, a day before the Jets played at the Seahawks. He hadn't closely tracked Manziel, but was impressed with what he saw.

"I got to see some of the Alabama game last week. I saw a little bit of the Florida game. I've seen a little bit of him, but not too much," Tebow said when asked by Yahoo! Sports about Manziel. "From what I've seen, he's a heck of a player."

In large part due to Manziel's gutsy play, the Aggies are 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC in their first year in the conference. It's a conference Tebow once dominated, with his great running ability, willingness to put his body on the line and knack for coming up with a big play at the right time. Sounds kind of like Manziel.

Manziel has even added a shout-out to Tebow on the profile of his Twitter account: "Proverbs 3:5-6.... I don't know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future -Tim Tebow."

Manziel has rolled off a list of weekly accolades and honors and has led Texas A&M to No. 8 in the BCS rankings. Tebow was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Manziel is trying to become the first freshman to win it.

"He's a competitor. He's a playmaker. He just finds ways to get things done. You have to tip your hat to their coaches and coordinators," Tebow said. "They have an awesome scheme and a lot of great playmakers.

"There's just something about him that you think he has a chance. I like his swag. It's fun to watch."

Swag, indeed.

Despite the fact that they're both known for their competitiveness and leadership, Tebow was built more like a linebacker, and wasn't quite sure how far the comparisons go between the two. He wouldn't say that there are similarities between them.

"I don't know about that. He's definitely fun to watch," Tebow said. "I was not rooting for him against Florida though."

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