5 Things You Didn’t Know About Oregon QB Marcus Mariota

By Phillip Jacques

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Oregon QB Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota — Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota looks to lead the Oregon Ducks to their first-ever national championship this Monday night against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Here are five little-known facts about Mariota.

5. Holds Pac-12 Record For Most Consecutive Passes Without An Interception With 343

Mariota Passing

5. Holds Pac-12 Record For Most Consecutive Passes Without An Interception With 343

Mariota Passing — Mariota threw an interception in the Rose Bowl against Florida State, but in his three-year career, he has thrown only 13 interceptions to go along with 103 TD passes. He only has three career games where he has thrown multiple interceptions and that is a major reason why the Ducks lead the nation this year in turnover margin at +20.

4. First Native Hawaiian, First Player Fom Oregon To Win Heisman Trophy

Mariota Kissing Heisman

4. First Native Hawaiian, First Player Fom Oregon To Win Heisman Trophy

Mariota Kissing Heisman — Mariota is also the first Heisman winner of Polynesian descent. He finally brought the Heisman to Oregon after two other players, Joey Harrington and LaMichael James, were finalists recently, but finished fourth and third respectively. Mariota also tied a record held by Sam Bradford with 53 total touchdowns, the most by a Heisman winner.

3. Oregon Was The Only Univeristy To Offer Him A Scholarship

Mariota And Helfrich

3. Oregon Was The Only Univeristy To Offer Him A Scholarship

Mariota And Helfrich — Mariota rode the pine behind All-State QB Jeremy Higgins until his senior year. Coach Mark Helfrich, then an assistant at Oregon, was actually in Hawaii scouting Higgins when he saw Mariota and invited him to the Ducks' camp, after which they offered him a scholarship. He went on to lead his team to the state championship in his lone year as a starter as a senior.

2. Was Named On 95.16 Percent of Heisman Ballots

Heisman Finalists

2. Was Named On 95.16 Percent of Heisman Ballots

Heisman Finalists — Not only was Mariota named on the highest percentage of ballots in history, he also received 90.9 percent of all possible votes, which is the second-highest percentage of all time behind 2006 recipient Troy Smith from Ohio State (the team Mariota will play this Monday in an effort to win Oregon's first ever National Championship).

1. Almost Didn't Attend Oregon Because of Fellow Future Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel

1. Almost Didn't Attend Oregon Because of Fellow Future Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel — Mariota had committed to Oregon, but when he learned they already had commitments from two other QBs, including Johnny Manziel, he considered changing course and going to Washington instead. However, when Manziel changed his mind and committed to Texas A&M, Mariota stayed with the Ducks and now has a chance to win the national title Johnny Football never did.

Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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