If history is any indication, then by winning the Manning Award, Marcus Mariota is a sure-fire first round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
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Heisman Trophy QB Marcus Mariota was named the winner of the prestigious Manning Award, honoring the top QB in college football.
”Marcus has kind of I guess blossomed a little bit,” Archie Manning, one of the award voters, said. ”Kind of quiet and reserved the first year – nothing wrong with that when you come all the way across the country to a camp. He does such a great job with the kids. Last year I think we had nine Pac-12 quarterbacks, so we had way more from the Pac-12 than any other conference, with Marcus leading the way.”
The Manning Award has been awarded annually since 2004, and has been given to such NFL stars as Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Robert Griffin III. Of the nine winners of the award that went to the NFL, four of them (Vince Young, Ryan, Newton and Griffin) were named NFL rookie of the year. Eight of the nine winners who went to the NFL were drafted in the first round, with Colt McCoy being the only outlier. Newton (2011) and JaMarcus Russell (2007) were both drafted No. 1 overall, Griffin was drafted No. 2 overall (2012), Ryan (2008) and Young (2006) were both drafted No. 3 overall.
Mariota set a Pac-12 and school record for total touchdowns this season with 58, including 42 via pass, 15 on the run and one touchdown catch.
Oregon finished No. 2 in this season’s final AP rankings. Overall, the Ducks ranked third in the nation in total offense with an average of 547 yards per game. The Ducks’ passing offense under Mariota was ranked 10th nationally with an average of 312.5 yards a game. Mariota’s passer efficiency rating (181.7) topped the nation.
Mariota announced Wednesday that he had decided to forgo his final season at Oregon and declare his eligibility for the 2015 NFL draft.
In addition to the Heisman, Mariota has also won the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards for player of the year, the Davey O’Brien award for quarterback of the year, Pac-12 offensive player of the year, and the AP Player of the Year award.
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