| Team: | Tennessee |
| Ht / Wt: | 6'4" / 222 lb. |
| College: | Oregon |
| Age: | 25 |
| Born: | October 30, 1993 |
| Drafted: | 2015 / Rd. 1 (2) |
| Draft Team: | TEN |
Mariota was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a two-sport star in football and track at Saint Louis High School in Honolulu. There, Oregon's coaching staff discovered his talent as a dual-threat QB. Mariota was named the 2010 Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year and helped his team win the state title during his senior season. This propelled him to the next level playing for the Oregon Ducks.
Mariota won the coveted Heisman Trophy after the 2014 season. But, Oregon lost to Ohio State in the first-ever College Playoffs Championship Game to cap his college career.
Leading up to the 2014 season, Mariota was an instant breakout star. He redshirted in 2011, then exploded on the scene in 2012. The Ducks went 12-1 in his first year and he scored 37 total TDs passing and rushing.
Then, Mariota led the Ducks to an 11-2 record in 2013. Mariota increased his passing total by nearly 1,000 yards and totaled 40 TDs.
This led to Mariota's Heisman campaign in 2014 when he passed for 4,454 yards, rushed for 770 yards, and totaled 57 TDs. He was also the NCAA leader in QBR and passer rating. Mariota decided to leave college for the NFL Draft after his junior season.
The Tennessee Titans drafted Marcus Mariota #2 in the 2015 NFL Draft, following Florida St. QB Jameis Winston. Mariota was tabbed the franchise QB for the Titans.
Leading up to the Draft, Mariota wowed scouts at the NFL Combine with his combination of speed and throwing ability. Mariota was a top-performer among QBs in every Combine drill. His 40 time was 4.52 seconds and his vertical jump was 36.0 inches. The 40 time led all QBs in his Draft class.
After being picked #2 in the NFL Draft, Mariota signed a lucrative four-year contract worth $24.21 million. The Titans' contract included guaranteed salary and an average annual salary of $6.05 million.
But, Mariota struggled in his rookie season. He threw 19 TDs, but he was also intercepted 10 times. He added two rushing TDs. Then, he injured his knee and missed the final few games of the season. He was determined to bounce back in 2016, though.
Mariota had a stellar second NFL season, but it was also cut short due to injury. He suffered a gruesome leg injury in the Titans' next-to-last game against the Jaguars, ending their hopes of competing for the AFC South. Prior to the injury, Mariota threw 26 TDs and one fewer INT than during his rookie season. He also rushed for two TDs.
Mariota is a devout Christian. He does not have an official Twitter account. But, there is a Twitter feed @MariotaNews that covers his career. His popular #8 Titans jersey can be found in the NFL Team Shop.
