Was there a doubt in your mind?
Marcus Mariota has been awarded the 2014 Heisman Trophy, officially making him College Football’s Most Valuable Player.
While we are all sitting here thinking about the amazement that is Marcus Mariota, he would not have been here if it weren’t for his family. Considered by most to be a top prospect in last year’s NFL draft, Mariota and his family decided he should stay in school one more year. Boy did that decision pay off for Mariota and the Ducks of Oregon.
Marcus Mariota catching a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats. Photo: Craig Strobeck
This season, Mariota has put up some of the best numbers of any quarterback in college football history. He threw for 3,783 yards, 38 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 669 yards and 14 touchdowns. And who could forget the touchdown pass he caught against Arizona? In all, Mariota accounted for 53 touchdowns, a Pac 12 championship and a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Mariota’s leadership abilities are noticed by many, including Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, “When you see the guys following him, you see the energy that it creates, you see that he is a winner.”
To go along with his leadership abilities on the field, Mariota is a role model off the field. From volunteering at the local Boys & Girls Club, to dropping off food to a homeless man he sees on his drive home from practice every day, Mariota has a heart of gold to go with the heart-of-a-lion attitude he portrays on the field.
Coming into the Heisman ceremony, Mariota had already raked in the Walter Camp Award for College Football’s Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. It was all but over, and everyone knew who would win, but if we could learn one thing from Super Mariota himself, staying humble throughout is the way to go.
From the entire FishDuck family, and Ducks fans alike, we would like to send forth our sincerest best wishes to this year’s Heisman Trophy winner … Marcus Mariota.
Congratulations, Mr. Mariota!
Top photo by Kevin Cline
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Jason is a Junior at the University of Oregon, currently double majoring in Public Relations and Political Science. Jason has been an avid sports fan for his entire life, growing up playing Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Over the last year, Jason has found his love for sports reporting, and enjoys creating pieces that use his love and knowledge for sports to portray his message. In his spare time, Jason enjoys obsessing over Ducks sports, Scuba Diving around the world, and listening to music. Tweet at Jason…. @1seltank. He loves talking sports with other avid sports fans.