Matt Chatham: Marcus Mariota ‘Best Heisman Candidate This Millennium’

It shouldn’t matter that Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has navigated his college football career without any of the off-field controversy that plagued the likes of Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston. But it does matter to Heisman Trophy voters, so it matters to former NFL player Matt Chatham.

With Mariota primed to be crowned the latest Heisman winner Saturday in New York, Chatham took a look at the signal-caller’s ridiculous assault on the record books with the Ducks. Given his statistics and his team’s success, Mariota “would have won the Heisman safely against any of the fields since 2000,” Chatham writes on FootballByFootball.com.

Mariota has thrown for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions, along with 14 rushing scores.

“There’s always more to the football story than a single state can tell,” Chatham writes. “But when a QB plays Tecmo Bowl against real, live defenses without giving them anything back at a rate untouched by any past QB? You already know how things are going to turn out. And in today’s environment, when his off-the-field persona comes without reservations … you can just drop that trophy in the mail to Mr. Mariota.”