Greatest college football player born in each state
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Oregon Ducks 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Hawai’i ranks No. 43 among the 50 United States in land area, and No. 40 in population. Located 2,390 miles from the US mainland, the 50th state was long considered off the beaten path for most college football programs. The University of Hawai’i has had intermittent success on the gridiron, and several Pac-10/Pac-12 schools have recruited the islands heavily over the years (with offensive and defensive linemen often being the primary focus), but Hawai’i also produced a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in Marcus Mariota.
Lightly recruited out of Honolulu, Mariota emerged as a star as a redshirt freshman at the University of Oregon, where he threw for 2,677 yards and 32 touchdowns with six interceptions and gained 752 rushing yards and five rushing TDs, and also scored on a touchdown catch and led the Ducks to a 12-1 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the AP Top 25. As a sophomore, Mariota improved his passing numbers to 3,665 yards and 31 TDs with four interceptions, and held steady with 715 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
In his third season as a starter, Mariota led Oregon to a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game following a 12-1 regular season that included a victory in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and a victory over Florida State in the semifinals. Mariota won the Heisman in a landslide and finished with 4,454 passing yards and 42 TD passes with just four interceptions, and added 770 rushing yards and 15 scores, as well as a 27-yard TD catch.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in Hawai’i:
- Timmy Chang, QB, Hawai’i
- Olin Kreutz, OL, Washington
- Vince Manuwai, OL, Hawai’i
- Mantei T’eo, LB, Notre Dame
- Mark Tuinei, OL, UCLA/Hawai’i
- Kimo von Oelhoffen, DL, Hawai’i/Boise State
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