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Sports

Manziel becomes first freshman to capture Heisman

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

New York, NY – Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday.

Manziel edged Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o to earn college football's most prestigious award.

The redshirt freshman received 474 first-place votes for 2,029 total points compared to Te'o's 321 first-place votes and 1,706 points, which was the most- ever scored by a purely defensive player in the history of the award.

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein came in third place with 60 first-place votes and 894 points.

"This is a moment that I've dreamed about since I was a little kid," said Manziel. "I wish my whole team could be up here tonight, especially my offensive linemen and offensive teammates."

Manziel broke the SEC record for total offense by passing for 3,419 yards and rushing for 1,181 more while totaling 43 touchdowns -- 24 through the air.

In Texas A&M's first season in the vaunted SEC, Manziel led the Aggies to a trip to the Cotton Bowl behind a 10-2 record, which included a win over then- No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 10.

Aside from becoming the first Texas A&M player to win the Heisman since John David Crow back in 1957, Manziel also captured the Davey O'Brien award for the nation's top quarterback, the SEC Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors.

"I get the chance to stand up here when, really, there could be five offensive lineman standing up here in the spotlight because they really deserve just as much, if not more, credit," Manziel said after hearing his name called for the award.

Te'o was seeking to become the first true defensive player the win the Heisman and the eighth Notre Dame player to receive the award.

Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson captured the Heisman in 1997, but he also appeared as a kick returner and wide receiver for the Wolverines.

The senior amassed a team-high 101 tackles and a career-best seven interceptions for the top-ranked Irish, who are set the play No. 2 Alabama in the BCS title game on Jan. 7.

Te'o, however, did become the first person ever to win both the Bednarik and Maxwell Awards, as well as capturing the Walter Camp Award, the Butkus Award, the Nagurski Award and the Lombardi Award this season, making him the most decorated player in college football history.

Klein was trying to become Kansas State's first-ever Heisman winner.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award recipient passed for 2,490 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 890 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns for the 11-1 Wildcats, who will face off against Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.