Marcus Mariota started his postseason Thursday night with a trio of major awards at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
According to ESPN, the Oregon junior quarterback won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award to go along with the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards that recognize best player of the year overall. His Ducks team most recently won the Pac-12 title thanks in part to his five-touchdown effort.
Mariota is likely only getting started this postseason. He is a finalist and the heavy favorite for the Heisman Trophy alongside Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. And he is to be awarded the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which awards fourth-year QBs.
"It's surreal. It's surreal. It really all is," Mariota told ESPN Thursday night. "Growing up as a kid you always kind of see these award shows. To say that I'm a part of really this fraternity... it's really just a blessing."
Typically soft-spoken and reserved, the QB from Hawaii has been thrust into the national spotlight as one of the best college football players of the last three seasons. In that timespan, he has gone from being among the best to standing alone on top.
But he is not done. Mariota has not announced if he plans to declare for the NFL or stay at Oregon to play in his senior season. The Ducks also have a shot at the National Championship for the first time with Mariota under center. They will play Florida State in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Jan. 1.
"Being from Hawaii, being kinda quiet and reserved to now being a little more vocal and being a part of a special team, it's come a long way for me. It's all been such a blessing," Mariota said. "[My teammates] asked me to kinda step up and be vocal and understand that my words can be powerful... It's been an ongoing process for me and I've definitely come a long way with it."
