Hugh Freeze Didn’t Hesitate Naming The Best Player He’s Ever Coached Against

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated May 16, 2025 4:07 PM ET

Throughout his 12 years as a college football head coach at the FBS level, Hugh Freeze has seen a good amount of success, accumulating a solid 94-57 record and going 6-3 in bowl games.

Of course, considering he started his career back in 2011, he has both coached and gone against a number of extremely talented players.

In a video posted to "The Next Round" YouTube channel, Freeze was asked, "What's the best college football player you have ever coached against?" to which his answer was clear.

"The first one that pops in my mind and whatever you think about him, this that or the other, I don't care, but the first person that just popped in my mind when you said that was Johnny Manziel," Freeze said.

Manziel certainly had a great college career, completing 595-of-863 passes for 7,820 yards, 7,820 yards, 63 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while also 2,169 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.

In 2012, he wound up becoming just the second player in Texas A&M history to win the Heisman Trophy while also earning All-America honors, and in 2013 finished fifth in Heisman voting.

While Freeze was still with the Ole Miss Rebels, he faced Manziel twice, where he completed 48-of-65 passes for 537 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions while also having 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Of course, what Freeze likely remembers the most is that he was never able to get the best of Manziel, as he and the Aggies defeated the Rebels 30-27 in 2012 and 41-38 in 2013.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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