It’s not Kenny Hill’s fault.

Nearly a year removed from even putting on a Texas A&M uniform, Hill’s predecessor, Johnny Manziel, still casts a large shadow over the quarterback position for the Aggies.

Arguably the biggest celebrity currently in sports, Johnny “Football” took the media by storm during his time in College Station. Although he was restricted from media access as a redshirt freshman, per head coach Kevin Sumlin’s policy, Manziel was anything but invisible from the limelight.

Whether he said he enjoyed the spotlight or not, his actions told a different story – appearing courtside at sporting events and partying with celebrities. Manziel basked in his own celebrity status, soaking up the riches of being Johnny Football, the most exciting player in college football.

As recently as two weeks ago, no one was quite sure who would be the man to replace Manziel. It was a neck-and-neck competition between Hill and true freshman Kyle Allen. Hill won out.

Entering a game as a definite underdog and as a first-time starter, Hill shined on national television, dismantling a top 10 team on the road. His 511 passing yards broke a school record. He threw three touchdowns. He looked like he had been there before. The amazing thing…was that he hadn’t.

RELATED: Johnny Who? Kenny Hill torches South Carolina’s defense

This is the area where Hill and Manziel are similar. Much like Hill, Manziel won the starting quarterback job shortly before the start of the 2012 season. He was a three-star recruit in high school and was a redshirt freshman entering his first season as the starting quarterback. Manziel’s rise to fame wasn’t as sudden. His first game was impressive (223 total yards, one touchdown), but the numbers over the next three games were spectacular (921 passing yards, 321 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns). Thus, Johnny Football was born and the rest is history.

After his performance last Thursday, the fame began for Hill and then came the nicknames.

Kenny Thrill. Kenny Trill. King of the Hill.

Even one uttered by The Football himself.

Don’t tell that to Hill though.

“I don’t like Kenny Football,” he said after Thursday night’s game.

He admitted that the limelight he’s experienced since the game is crazy and “kind of fun”, but don’t fit him into the mold of Johnny Manziel. After seeing what Manziel went through, Hill has decided to forge his own path.

The sophomore politely declines photos, which the quarterback says is at the request of Sumlin. However, Sumlin has a different story.

“It’s his decision,” Sumlin said. “I told these guys that if they got something bad, they can blame it on me. If they don’t want to do something, just say ‘Coach Sumlin told you not to do that.’ I didn’t tell him not to take the photos. But that’s okay if he doesn’t want to do that.”

“I’m just trying to live how I’ve always lived,” Hill said during Tuesday’s press conference. “It’s one of those things Johnny got into so much trouble with pictures and [Sumlin] doesn’t want to me to get in trouble with pictures.”

If indeed Hill is the one who decided for himself to not pose for pictures, it’s a step forward in the right direction for the young quarterback. He’s getting out in front of the Johnny Manziel craziness, rather than letting it consume his season before it becomes too much to handle.

As celebrated as Manziel was in College Station, there’s no question his off-the-field antics were a distraction. No program wants their star player filling the TMZ headlines, no matter how talented he may be. You have to credit Hill for his judgement in taking precautionary measures early on, especially in this world where social media runs rampant.

If he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, that’s OK. If he doesn’t want to be “the next Johnny Football”, that’s OK.

You can keep trying to fit him in that mold. Just don’t expect to see any money signs in the air when Hill celebrates his next touchdown.

And that’s OK.