Best Oregon football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

While there were some difficult cuts and decisions to make about who should make the Oregon football modern-day Mount Rushmore, the decision to include Marcus Mariota was the easiest of the bunch. He’s one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the history of college football, not just at Oregon, showing an unprecedented blend of elite passing and dual-threat ability.

It was easy to see big things were in store for Mariota at Oregon from the moment he took the field as a freshman. He passed for 2,677 yards, 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions while rushing for 752 yards and five scores and even catching a touchdown as well. The following year, he upped the ante with 3,665 yards passing, 31 touchdowns and just four picks with another 715 yards rushing and nine scores there.

Of course, Mariota’s 2014 season in which he won the Heisman Trophy is one for the ages. Completing 68.3 percent of his passes, he threw for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns while tossing just four interceptions. He also set career-highs in rushing as he hit 770 yards and 15 touchdowns as well. For good measure, he took Oregon to the National Championship Game, though the Ducks fell short.

Even only playing three years, it’s not shocking that Mariota owns the Oregon football record books. He’s the all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offensive yards and total offensive touchdowns. There has never been a player more dominant than the dynamic quarterback in Eugene.

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