Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, enjoyed a great season in 2014. Not only did he lead his team to the number-two seed in the inaugural college football playoffs, but he can now add Heisman Trophy winner to his resume.
On Saturday night, Mariota was named the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. For the season he threw for 3,773 yards and had a touchdown to interception ratio of 38-2, notes Sports Reference. In addition to his air dominance, he also put in 14 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 669 rushing yards.
Mariota claiming this year's Heisman continues a trend of the dual-threat quarterback taking home the trophy. Last year's winner, and this year's candidate, Jameis Winston, also represents everything there is about the dual threat quarterback. Other recent previous winners such as like Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III and Tim Tebow have only strengthened the dual threat quarterback's stranglehold on the Heisman in recent times, notes Sports Illustrated.
Speaking on the 2014 version, only three players were invited as finalists for the award: Mariota, Melvin Gordon, running-back for Wilsconsin, and Amari Cooper, wide-receiver for Alabama. Many say Cooper is the most talented player in the country, and had already taken home the Fred Biletnikoff award as best wide-receiver in the country. He finished second in the Heisman voting while Gordon finished third.
On New Year's Day, the newly minted Heisman Trophy winner will be taking his Oregon team into the Rose Bowl to face the defending champion Florida State Seminoles. With a win, the Ducks will play for the right to be named 2014 National Champions.