After throwing for just under 3,800 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, just two interceptions, and having a quarterback rating of 186.3, Marcus Mariota has been named the Walter Camp Award winner. To no surprise, the junior from the University of Oregon won the award, which is given to the nation’s best player. Not only has Mariota been a terrific player for the Ducks since his freshman year, it should also be noted that he has become the leader of Oregon’s locker room in the process.
His passing numbers are quite unbelievable, but Mariota is also as dynamic as anyone outside of the pocket as well. In Oregon’s spread offense, Mariota ran the ball 117 times for 669 yards and 14 touchdowns. To show even more of his play-making ability, Mariota also caught a 26-yard touchdown in 2014. Chip Kelly, the current Philadelphia Eagles head coach and former Oregon head coach, called Mariota the most talented player he ever coached, and that is something special for the Hawaii native. When Kelly left after Mariota’s freshman season, many thought Mariota, as well as the Ducks, might fall off the map a little bit. Instead, the Ducks have stayed atop college football prominency, and the main reason why is because of Mariota. Considering how dynamic he is, Mariota has made head coach Mark Helfrich’s job much easier.
Going forward, Mariota and the Ducks will prepare for one of the best defenses they have seen all year in Florida State. However, Mariota is still in the running for, and arguably the favorite for, the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and of course, the Heisman Award. After that, Mariota will be one of the most intriguing NFL prospects if he declares, due to his versatility. Before that happens, college football fans will be able to enjoy his dominance on the big stage against Florida State in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
*Section Photo credit to Craig Mitchelldyer, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Scott Olmos, USA Today Sports.