Sumlin: Manziel draft decision expected before bowl
Expect Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel to decide before the Aggies' bowl game whether he'll stay in college for another year or declare for the NFL Draft, his coach said Friday.
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin plans to sit down with Manziel and discuss the future after the Aggies' regular-season finale against Missouri on Nov. 30.
Manziel, a redshirt sophomore, is projected as a first-round draft pick should he decide to jump in next year. According to NFLDraftScout.com, Manziel is the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 3 quarterback behind Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Oregon's Marcus Mariota.
"We haven't had that conversation," Sumlin said Friday during the SVP & Russillo radio show on ESPN. "My job is to get him all the facts that we can get him. We'll have that discussion after the Missouri game, certainly during the bowl preparation. I'm sure the announcement will be made at that time."
Texas A&M (9-2) plays at No. 19 LSU on Saturday.
"He's handled things on the field as well as any player in the country," Sumlin said. "His numbers are better than they were last year. And I've had a number of people tell me there's no more exciting college football player in the country than he is, and he's the guy they like to watch. He's a special talent.
"His energy, his leadership on the team is evident and he continues to get better every week."
Manziel is in the running to become the first player since Ohio State running back Archie Griffin in 1975 to win a second Heisman Trophy. This season, the 2012 Heisman winner has passed for 3,313 yards and 31 touchdowns and run for eight scores in 10 games.
