Feb 10, 2016 11:59 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Since Johnny Manziel helped usher Texas A&M into the SEC, head coach Kevin Sumlin has been a prolific quarterback recruiter, but one of those recruits offered his opinion as to why he and two others have left the program over the past two years.

Both five-star prospects, Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray transferred from Texas A&M early in their college football careers knowing they would have to sit out a year as a result. But the two truly raised eyebrows when they both left the program without a destination within a close timeframe of one another.

Speaking with CBS Sports, Allen alluded to a "culture" of allowing star players the freedom to act out that originated with Manziel.

"I think the culture was a big part of it, and I think that stems from Johnny's era there - the way that they let Johnny and [others] act there," he said. "They [could] do that and still win games because they had Johnny... and five offensive linemen playing in the NFL right now.

"A lot of people were riding off that, 'I can do whatever the hell I want and win on Saturday.'"

Allen transferred to Houston and is expected to compete for the Cougars' starting QB position after sitting out this season. Murray transferred to Oklahoma and will vie to fill the role Baker Mayfield will leave following this season. But last year, Kenny Hill transferred from Texas A&M and will compete for TCU's starting QB position this spring.

Allen was 247 Sports' top pro-style QB in the class of 2014 and Murray was the top dual-threat QB in the class of 2016. Hill was a four-star prospect in the class of 2015, but put up explosive numbers in the season following Manziel's departure for the NFL.

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