College football: Ranking every Heisman Trophy winner
By Brad Weiss
15. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: Marcus Mariota, Oregon Ducks football
From the second he took the ball to start for the Oregon Ducks as a redshirt freshman, the first freshman to start a season opener for Oregon in 22 years, Marcus Mariota was a star. After playing outstanding football his first two years on campus, leading the Ducks to a 23-3 record, Mariota had a season for the ages his junior year, which would prove to be his last at the collegiate level.
The thing about Mariota during his time at Oregon was that he was just accurate, as he had only two interceptions the entire regular season. Leading the Ducks to a College Football Playoff, Mariota threw for nearly 3,800 yards with 38 touchdown passes while also running in 14 scores and actually hauling in a touchdown reception.
Against the Florida State Seminoles in the semifinals of the CFP, Mariota outdueled eventual No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston, leading the Ducks to a national title game appearance against Ohio State. While the Ducks would eventually lose to the Buckeyes, Mariota ran away with the Heisman, appearing on a record 95.16 percent of the ballots.
The winner of not only the Heisman, but also the Davey O’Brien, Walter Camp, and Maxwell Awards, Mariota made the decision to enter the NFL Draft and was selected No. 2 overall after Winston. With his win, he became not only the first Oregon player to ever win a Heisman, but also the first Polynesian player, and player born in Hawaii to take home the most coveted individual award in college football.