Best college football players of all time from every state

Hawaii – Marcus Mariota

One of the seven smallest states in the nation in size, and 10 lowest in population, Hawaii has been (for most of its young statehood) considered as a non-football state. With the Pacific Coast schools recruiting the islands heavily, the up-and-down success level that the University of Hawai’i has had hasn’t stopped some remarkable athletes from rising from the island state.

Marcus Mariota was a Heisman winner in his time as a University of Oregon Duck and emerged as a star early on in his career. As just a redshirt freshman, Mariota took the nation by storm, throwing for 2,677 yards and 32 touchdowns, with just six interceptions, while also using his speed and ability to find holes in the defense to run for 752 yards and five extra touchdowns.

He also, memorably, caught a touchdown in a season where the Ducks would find themselves in the No. 2 spot in the AP’s Top 25 at the end of the year.

As a sophomore, Mariota focused on the air attack a bit more, improving his statistics to throwing for 3,665 yards and 31 touchdowns, while keeping the run game as an open option in a dynamic Oregon offense. When junior year rolled around, Mariota was a national sensation, taking Oregon to a spot in the National Championship game in a Heisman-winning season.

Alabama junior quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa could be the answer by this time next year, but Mariota is the easy pick today.