- Johnny Manziel’s 2012 Heisman season combined prolific passing with 1,410 rushing yards and 21 TDs.
- Manziel averaged seven yards per carry on 201 attempts, outpacing many pure running backs.
- Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love posted 1,372 rushing yards in 2025 — a comparison that highlights Manziel’s historic season.
- Manziel’s blend of passing and rushing remains a benchmark for modern dual‑threat QBs.
H2: Why Manziel’s 2012 season still resonates
Johnny Manziel’s redshirt‑freshman Heisman campaign at Texas A&M (2012) is still referenced when observers debate the greatest dual‑threat seasons in college football history. That year he threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,410 yards and 21 rushing TDs on 201 carries — an average of seven yards per carry.
Those numbers stand out because Manziel wasn’t a conventional running back; he led an offense from the quarterback position and produced rushing totals that matched or exceeded many lead rushers in college football.
H3: A modern comparison — Jeremiyah Love in 2025
When Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love emerged as a Heisman finalist in 2025 with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries (6.9 yards per carry), analysts highlighted the similarity in workload and efficiency. Love’s season is outstanding in its own right, but Bleacher Report’s back‑to‑back comparisons reinforced how rare Manziel’s combined passing and rushing production was.
The key difference: Love’s primary role is running the ball, whereas Manziel produced elite rushing totals while also throwing for more than 3,700 yards. That dual impact on both the ground and through the air is what elevates Manziel’s 2012 campaign in historical context.
H3: What made Manziel a generational dual‑threat?
- Balance of volume and efficiency: Manziel paired high rushing volume (201 carries) with outstanding efficiency (7.0 yards per carry), which is rare for quarterbacks.
- Passing production: His 3,706 passing yards and 26 TDs meant defenses could not key only on his legs.
- Big‑play ability: Manziel created yardage with designed runs, scrambles and improvisation, forcing opponents to defend both dimensions of the offense.
H2: Legacy and context
Manziel’s season remains a measuring stick for scouts, analysts and fans judging the impact of dual‑threat quarterbacks. While players like Cam Newton (2010) also produced legendary Heisman campaigns, Manziel’s freshman breakout was notable for combining elite passing numbers with a true feature‑back style rushing output from the QB position.
As college football evolves, comparisons like the one to Jeremiyah Love remind fans why certain seasons endure in the conversation — they reshape expectations for what a quarterback can do and how offenses are built.
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