Countdown to kickoff continues for Johnny Manziel, NCAA and Texas A

Will he play or won’t he?

The countdown continues for quarterback Johnny Manziel as Texas A&M; moves closer to Saturday’s opener against Rice.

The school has gone into a communication lockdown as it tries to remain focused on the upcoming season.

Texas A&M; issued a release saying Coach Kevin Sumlin and Aggie players would not address the Manziel situation at Tuesday’s scheduled news conference.

“The focus of our coaches and student athletes is solely on preparing for Rice this Saturday,” Athletic Director Eric Hyman said in a statement

Various outlets have reported that the NCAA met with Manziel for several hours over the weekend trying to determine whether he accepted money for autographs.

The school could be subject to NCAA penalties if it uses a player who later turns out to be ineligible, but there’s been no early-week indication that Texas A&M; will sit Manziel for the Rice game.

Chancellor John Sharp has already gone public in his support for Manziel, telling College Station’s KBTX-TV that he knows Manziel is not guilty of the allegations.

“I just know,” Sharp said. “I’ve seen things that other folks can’t see. And it didn’t happen. It did not happen.”

Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in leading the Aggies to an 11-2 finish in 2012.

ALSO:

College football top 25 countdown: No. 2 Alabama

USC football: Devon Kennard among four team captains

USC’s 2-for-1 deal at quarterback may pay off; it has in past