Johnny Manziel Weighs In After Trooper Confronts South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor
The viral moment involving a Texas state trooper who bumped into and confronted South Carolina star Nyck Harbor after his long touchdown run against Texas A&M drew swift national backlash. Fans, analysts, and former players almost unanimously criticized the trooper’s actions, and he was removed from duty for the remainder of the game.
But one person unexpectedly came to the trooper’s defense: former Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
Appearing on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco, Manziel said he understood the emotional tension surrounding the situation — especially with undefeated A&M trailing 27-3 when Harbor broke loose for the explosive score.
“I think we were just a little frustrated in that first half,” Manziel said. “He breaks off that long touchdown. Around here in these parts, partner, we protect this house. We paid a lot of money for this house. Get out of my tunnel, boy. Get back on the field. So he gave him a little something. Let him know what’s up. To be honest, it didn’t give us much of a spark.”
The incident occurred after Harbor sprinted into the tunnel in celebration following his 80-yard touchdown, with several South Carolina teammates trailing behind him. As they made their way back to the field, the trooper approached, bumped into Harbor and Oscar Adaway III, then turned to point and shout at them — a moment caught on video and quickly circulated across social media.
Despite the drama, the Gamecocks took a commanding 30–3 lead into halftime. But the story flipped dramatically, as Texas A&M mounted an unforgettable comeback to win 31–30, one of the program’s wildest finishes.
While Manziel wasn’t as outraged as most viewers, he did acknowledge the officer crossed the line.
“Listen, majority of the time you don’t see a lot of that from A&M people,” he said. “You don’t see it from Aggies. It is a small gesture that, of course, in the day and age we live in, it’s on TV and recorded and blasted everywhere. I’m sure the guy obviously feels bad about it. I’m sure it’s one of those moments.”
Manziel’s comments added an unexpected twist to an already heated conversation — one that continues to ripple through both fanbases after a game packed with emotion, controversy, and an all-time comeback.
