Oregon QB easily wins Heisman Trophy

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Marcus Mariota, the prototypical 21st-century quarterback, took an old-fashioned approach to become Oregon’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

The Ducks’ understated star won the Heisman on Saturday night going away, capping a three-year climb to college football’s most prestigious individual award.

“I’m humbled to be standing here today,” Mariota said, reading an acceptance speech he had a hard time getting through without choking up.

A pinpoint passer with wide-receiver speed, Mariota came into his junior season as the favorite to win the 80th Heisman and delivered a performance that turned the presentation ceremony at a theater in Times Square into a foregone conclusion.

Mariota received twice as many points as second-place finisher Melvin Gordon, the record-breaking running back from Wisconsin. The other finalist, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, was third.

Mariota received the second-highest percentage of possible points (90.92) in Heisman history, behind only Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who had 91.63 in 2006. Southern California tailback Reggie Bush received 91.77 percent of possible points in 2005, but his victory was later vacated for violating NCAA rules.

The first Hawaii native to win the Heisman has accounted for a Pac-12-record 53 touchdowns (38 passing, 14 rushing and one receiving) while directing the Ducks’ warp-speed spread offense. He also led Oregon to a spot in the first College Football Playoff.

It will be a matchup of Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the Rose Bowl semifinal Jan. 1 with Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks facing Florida State and Jameis Winston.

Mariota has been making a whirlwind tour up the East Coast collecting trophies. First stop, Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, to pick up an armful of hardware. Next stop, Baltimore for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He took a train to New York on Saturday morning. It was his first time on a train and his first time in the Big Apple.

“It’s breathtaking, really,” he said of the city hours before being announced as the winner. “I’ve never been around so many skyscrapers and lights and people. It’s definitely been a different feel, but it’s cool.”

In an era when so many Heisman winners seemingly come from out of nowhere — the last two were the first freshmen winners — Mariota’s rise was slow and steady.

Three of the last four Heisman winners were in their first seasons as starters.