Earlier this month, Johnny Manziel became the first freshman -- redshirt or otherwise -- to take home the Heisman Trophy. This afternoon, the Texas A&M quarterback added yet another first.
In its announcement of the 2012 edition of its All-America team, the members of the Football Writers Association of America tabbed Manziel as the starting quarterback on the squad. He became the first freshman quarterback in the 69-year history of the FWAA team.
Manziel was also one of 11 players from the SEC on the 26-player team, easily the most of any single conference. The Big 12 and Pac-12 had three players apiece, with the ACC (two) and MAC (two) the only other leagues with more than one player.
As far as individual schools go, A&M -- Manziel, offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews and defensive end Damontre Moore -- and Alabama -- center Barrett Jones, offensive tackle Chance Warmack and defensive back Dee Milliner -- were the only ones with more than one player placed on the team.
A pair of Joneses -- Alabama’s Barrett and Georgia’s Jarvis -- were the only players to repeat the honor from the 2011 team.
There were 12 seniors and 11 juniors this year’s squad, with just two sophomores represented -- USC WR Marqise Lee and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Manziel as a freshman, of course, accounted for the last of the 26 players.
In another oddity, the tight end position wasn’t included this year. Instead, the release explained, “three wide receivers [were selected to] the team because of the depth of talent at the position.”
