Oregon Ducks: Marcus Mariota needs to win the Heisman
Why are we overlooking statistics these days?
There are players in college football to say clearly, are beyond belief.
One of these players is the Oregon Ducks Quarterback Marcus Mariota.
After Jameis Winston won the Heisman last year, I asked myself, “How is Marcus Mariota not even getting consideration?”
The Oregon Ducks signal caller started the beginning as one of the frontrunners of the Heisman Trophy, and ended the season without getting a top-10 vote. This was an astronomical fall, especially for a man who frequently puts up video game numbers.
As of today, his career throwing statistics for the Oregon Ducks are 6,342 yards, 63 touchdowns (that is a lot of pushups), and 10 interceptions.
You have got to be kidding me right?
People have their fair share of opinions when it comes to Mariota. I have heard the common knock on the Oregon Ducks offense which normally sounds like this, “The simple offense he plays in is designed for scoring, he only throws it to his first read” and every other laughable excuse they can think of.
To be blunt, the man is simply amazing and his stats haven’t lied.
In this new age of quarterback play we have seen many successful quarterbacks have the ability to not only evade and scramble but also have the ability to throw. It is not a stretch to say that Marcus Mariota can make the transition and continue his awesome career with the Oregon Ducks after watching quarterbacks such as Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Colin Kaepernick dominate in college football as well.
Last season alone, he completed 63.5 percent of his passes while throwing for 31 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. For all of those who haven’t watched him play, oh yeah he can scramble too (he runs a 4.48). Mariota accounted for 715 yards on the ground while adding in another nine touchdowns for his ducks.
Some members of society can even attempt to bash his conference by claiming some false notion as if the Pac-12 was not competitive. After the final AP Poll was released with Florida State winning their BCS title, Mariota led his Oregon Ducks to the best ranking within the Pac-12 at No. 10.
There were also six other Pac-12 schools included in the final AP Top 25 poll: Stanford (11), UCLA (16), USC (19), Arizona State (20), Washington (25). Only the grand Southeastern Conference was a conference with more schools (7) in the final polls than the Pacific 12.
Next season, Mariota will return as the Oregon Ducks starting quarterback. The 6’4, 215 lb luminary will again be in the position to lead his Ducks to the Pac-12 title and possibly into the College Football Playoff. One of the biggest factors that Mariota has on his side is experience.
Time is said to be the best teacher. After having two losses late to Stanford and Arizona which not only cost him the Heisman trophy, but a shot at the National Championship, Marcus should be motivated to have an even better season next year. There has been nothing but time to pass for his pain to heal, and looking forward, he is already on watchlists for Heisman Trophy candidacy.
Mariota needs more love nationwide, because this man might get gutted again out of not being in contention for winning a Heisman Trophy and that will be a travesty.
What I do wonder is “What criticism will be thrown next at him?” Because when NFL Draft time rolls around, he will highly ranked on draft boards.
Until then, we will have to see how this Mariota will have the Oregon Duck doing an incredible number of pushups in the National Championship game.
Can we get an Oregon vs. Florida State title game though, please?