Where Marcus Mariota ranks among best NCAA QBs since 2000
Since the turn of the century, the game of college football has seemingly exploded onto the scene. That isn’t to say that it hasn’t always been entertaining and hand a legitimate place in the sporting world, but over the past 20 years or so, it has come to the forefront of the landscape and is covered as closely as any other sport in the nation. With the introduction of the college football playoff, the transfer portal, and NIL, that statement is more true now than ever.
What’s great for Oregon fans is the fact that the Ducks have been at the center of that universe since the turn of the century as well. With a new era ushered in by Joey Harrington and Mike Bellotti in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Ducks have been rapidly accelerating and quickly becoming one of the most popular teams in the nation.
While Harrington laid the groundwork, it’s hard to argue against the fact that Marcus Mariota truly took things to the next level.
With his dominant run from 2012-2014 culminating in a Heisman Trophy and a near national championship, it’s not hard to see the impact that Mariota had on the game. He was the first Hawaiian-born player to ever win a Heisman, and he will go down in NCAA history as one of the most dominant and versatile quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.
Since the turn of the century, though, where does he rank among the best of the best QBs to play college football? ESPN recently ranked the top 25 passers over the last 20-plus years. Here’s where Mariota ended up:
Jalen Hurts — Alabama/Oklahoma
Years Played: 2016-2019
Career Stats: 56 Games | 9,477 yards, 80 TD, 20 INT // 3,274 rushing yards, 43 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Philadelphia Eagles | 2nd Round — 53rd Overall
Accolades
National Champion (2017)
Sugar Bowl MVP (2018)
SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2016)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2016)
Our Analysis: One of the stranger college careers we’ve seen, Jalen Hurts went from getting benched in the national championship for Tua Tagovailoa to becoming a star for the Oklahoma Sooners. Eventually, Hurts became a star for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL as well.
Case Keenum — Houston
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Years Played: 2007-2011
Career Stats: 57 Games | 19,217 yards, 155 TD, 46 INT // 897 rushing yards, 23 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Undrafted
Accolades
Holds NCAA Record for Career Passing Yards, Career Passing TDs
First-Team All-American
2x C-USA MVP
Our Analysis: It’s kind of shocking that Case Keenum didn’t get drafted after putting up the numbers that he did at Houston and setting the NCAA record for passing yards and passing TD. He went on to have a solid career in the NFL, where he made waves with the Minnesota Vikings.
Carson Palmer — USC
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Years Played: 1998-2002
Career Stats: 53 Games | 11,818 yards, 72 TD, 49 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Cincinnati Bengals | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2002)
Orange Bowl MVP
First Team All American(2002)
Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year (2002)
Our Analysis: Carson Palmer’s list of accolades is long, but it’s interesting to see how much of his collegiate success came in the final year with USC, when he won the Heisman Trophy and went on to be named the Orange Bowl MVP. Palmer also went on to have a great NFL career with the Bengals as well.
Phillip Rivers — NC State
(Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)
Years Played: 2000-2003
Career Stats: 49 Games | 13,484 yards, 95 TD, 34 INT
NFL Draft Pick: New York Giants | First Round — 4th Overall
Accolades
2x ACC Player of the Year
First-Team All-ACC
Our Analysis: Phillip Rivers had a solid college career, but I’m a bit surprised that he is this high on the list. There aren’t a ton of accolades that came with his time at NC State, but he did go on to have a great career in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.
Tua Tagovailoa — Alabama
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Years Played: 2017-2019
Career Stats: 32 Games | 7,442 yards, 87 TD, 11 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Miami Dolphins | First Round — 5th Overall
Accolades
National Champion (2017)
CFP Championship MVP (2017)
Maxwell Award Winner (2018)
Walter Camp Award Winner (2018)
First-Team All-American (2018)
Our Analysis: Tua Tagovailoa was one of the more transcendent college players in recent memory, coming in for Alabama in the second half of the national championship game and putting on a show. Though injuries have been the major storyline of his career, Tua has been fascinating to watch from the start.
C.J. Stroud — Ohio State
Years Played: 2020-2022
Career Stats: 26 Games | 8,123 yards, 85 TD, 12 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Houston Texans | First Round — 2nd Overall
Accolades
2nd-Team All-American (2022)
2x Griese-Brees QB of the Year
Our Analysis: Another player who I am surprised is so high on this list. After just completing his college career, Stroud as some incredible stats, but maybe not the accolades that compare to others around him. We will see how his NFL career takes off this coming year with the Houston Texans.
Bryce Young — Alabama
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Years Played: 2020-2022
Career Stats: 34 Games | 8,356 yards 80 TD, 12 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Carolina Panthers | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2021)
National Champion (2020)
Maxwell Award Winner (2021)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2021)
Consensus All-American (2021)
Our Analysis: Bryce Young has been an incredible player for Alabama over the past few years, winning a Heisman Trophy and a nation championship as well. Though he is a bit undersized, we will see how his NFL career takes off with the Carolina Panthers this season.
Andrew Luck — Stanford
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Years Played: 2009-2011
Career Record: 31-7
Career Stats: 38 Games | 9,430 yards, 82 TD, 22 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Indianapolis Colts | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Walter Camp Award Winner
Maxwell Award Winner
First-Team All-American
2nd in Heisman Voting (2010, 2011)
Our Analysis: Andrew Luck finished second in Heisman voting for two years in a row, and he had an incredible run at Stanford before going to the NFL as one of the top-rated prospects in recent memory.
Matt Leinart — USC
Photo by Preston Mack-USA TODAY Sports (©) Copyright 2005 by Preston Mack
Years Played: 2003-2005
Career Stats: 39 Games | 10,693 yards, 99 TD, 23 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Arizona Cardinals | First Round — 10th Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2004)
Two-Time National Champion
Walter Camp Award Winner
First Team All-American (2003, 2004)
Our Analysis: As a Heisman winner and a player with as many national championships as career losses at USC, it’s hard to find many QBs as talented as Leinart was. While he had the legendary Reggie Bush and the prime of Pete Carroll’s college coaching career, there’s no looking past Leinart when talking about the Trojans’ success during this time period.
Jameis Winston — Florida State
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Years Played: 2013-2014
Career Stats: 27 Games | 7,964 yards, 65 TD, 28 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2013)
BCS National Champion (2013)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2013)
Walter Camp Award Winner (2013)
Our Analysis: Jameis Winson may not have had a long college career, but it was certainly entertaining. From the Heisman and national championship double-dose in 2013, to the falling fumble fail against the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl a year later, Winston’s time at Florida State was always fun to watch.
Sam Bradford — Oklahoma
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Years Played: 2007-2009
Career Stats:31 Games | 8,403 yards, 88 TD, 16 INT
NFL Draft Pick: St. Louis Rams | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2008)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2008)
Big 12 Player of the Year (2008)
Our Analysis: It feels like Sam Bradford gets looked past quite a bit in the history books. He had a great college career with the Oklahoma Sooners, resulting in a Heisman Trophy in 2008. However, his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams was nothing short of disappointing.
Kellen Moore — Boise State
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Years Played: 2008-2011
Career Stats: 53 Games | 14,667 yards, 142 TD, 28 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Undrafted
Accolades
Mountain West Player of the Year (2011)
2x QB of the Year (2010, 2011)
First Team All-WAC (2010)
Our Analysis: Kellen Moore put up great stats with Boise State and had a long and successful career. However, the level of competition in the WAC and Mountain West made it so he wasn’t taken as seriously as other prospects, going undrafted and not having a long NFL career. However, he has found his niche as an offensive coordinator so far at the next level.
Johnny Manziel — Texas A&M
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Years Played: 2012-2013
Career Stats: 26 Games | 7,820 yards, 63 TD, 22 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Cleveland Browns | First Round — 22nd Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2012)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2012)
SEC Player of the Year (2012)
Consensus All-American (2012)
Our Analysis: Is there any player who had a more fun college career than Johnny Manziel? From the money celebration, the Heisman Trophy, and the upset of Alabama, Manziel certainly lived his best life during his time at Texas A&M. Since then, though, I’m not sure you can say things have continued that way.
Colt McCoy — Texas
Photo By Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Years Played: 2006-2009
Career Stats: 53 Games | 13,253 yards, 112 TD, 45 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Cleveland Browns | Third Round — 85th Overall
Accolades
Maxwell Award Winner (2009)
2x Walter Camp Award Winner (2008, 2009)
2x First-Team All-American (2008, 2009)
Fiesta Bowl MVP (2009)
Our Analysis: If it weren’t for Colt McCoy’s injury in the BCS Championship Game, his career might look even better than it already does. He left a solid legacy at Texas, and went on to have a decent NFL career as well.
Trevor Lawrence — Clemson
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Years Played: 2018-2020
Career Stats: 40 Games | 10,098 yards, 90 TD, 17 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
CFP National Champion (2018)
National Championship MVP (2018)
ACC Player of the Year (2020)
First-Team All-American (2020)
Our Analysis: Trevor Lawrence not winning a Heisman Trophy during his time at Clemson is still remarkable to me. He was among the best college QBs we’ve seen in recent memory and has gone on to have a great young NFL career as well.
Robert Griffin III — Baylor
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Years Played: 2008-2011
Career Stats: 41 Games | 10,366 yards, 78 TD, 17 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Washington Redskins | First Round — Second Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2011)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2011)
Consensus All-American (2011)
Our Analysis: Robert Griffin III was nothing short of electric during his time at Baylor, and that electricity followed him to the NFL where he dazzled for Washington at the start of his professional career before injuries turned everything upside down.
Marcus Mariota — Oregon
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Years Played: 2013-2014
Career Record: 36-5
Career Stats: 41 Games | 10,796 yards, 105 TD, 14 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Tennessee Titans | First Round — 2nd Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner
Maxwell Award Winner
Walter Camp Award Winner
First-Team All-American (2013)
Pac-12 Player of the Year
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Our Analysis: Arguably the greatest player in Oregon history, Marcus Mariota is deservedly at the top of this list for Pac-12 players. With an impressive 105-14 TD:INT ratio, Mariota also added 2,237 yards and 29 TD on the ground in his career, and was the runaway Heisman winner in 2014. He fell short of the national championship, but will forever be the player who had the biggest impact with the Ducks on the national stage.
Lamar Jackson — Louisville
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Years Played: 2015-2017
Career Stats: 38 Games | 9,043 yards, 69 TD, 27 INT // 4,132 rushing yards, 50 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Baltimore Ravens | First Round — 32nd Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2016)
Walter Camp Award Winner (2016)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2016)
Unanimous All-American (2016)
Our Analysis: There might not have ever been a better rushing QB at the college level than Lamar Jackson. He did more with his legs than with his arm, and undoubtedly deserved the Heisman in 2016. His NFL career with the Ravens has been fascinating to watch as well.
Kyler Murray — Oklahoma
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Years Played: 2015-2018
Career Stats: 29 Games | 5,406 yards, 50 TD, 14 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Arizona Cardinals | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2018)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2018)
First-Team All-American (2018)
Our Analysis: Watching Kyler Murray do what he was able to do on the football field with his size was incredible at the college level. He could make plays with both his arm and his legs, and was well deserving of a Heisman Trophy in 2018. His NFL career has had its bumps, but we know that the talent is there.
Deshaun Watson — Clemson
Years Played: 2014-2016
Career Stats: 38 Games | 10,168 yards, 90 TD, 32 INT // 1,934 rushing yards, 26 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Houston Texans | First Round — 12th Overall
Accolades
CFP National Champion (2016)
National Championship MVP (2016)
3x ACC Player of the Year
Consensus All-American
Our Analysis: Like Trevor Lawrence, it is a big remarkable that Deshaun Watson didn’t win a Heisman Trophy in his college career. He was undoubtedly among the best college QBs we’ve seen in recent memory, and he’s gone on to have a great NFL career up until about a year ago.
Joe Burrow — LSU
Years Played: 2015-2019
Career Stats: 38 Games | 8,852 yards, 78 TD, 11 INT
NFL Draft Pick: Cincinnati Bengals | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2019)
CFP National Champion (2019)
National Championship MVP (2019)
Maxwell Award Winner (2019)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2019)
Unanimous All-American (2019)
SEC Player of the Year (2019)
Our Analysis: I would argue that Joe Burrow’s 2019 season is among the best we’ve ever seen from a college QB. With the Heisman, National Championship, and National Championship MVP triple crown, Burrow did it better than almost anyone, and he made it look cooler than anyone ever has. His NFL career has been a thrilling thing to watch as well.
Tim Tebow — Florida
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Years Played: 2006-2009
Career Stats: 55 Games | 9,285 yards, 88 TD, 16 INT // 692 rushing yards, 57 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Denver Broncos | First Round — 25th Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2007)
2x BCS National Champion (2006, 2008)
BCS National Championship MVP (2008)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2007)
2x SEC Player of the Year (2008, 2009)
2x First-Team All-American (2007, 2008)
Our Analysis: I’m not sure we’ve ever seen or ever will see a career quite like Tim Tebow’s again, where a QB is so electric at the college level, and so ill-suited at the NFL level. As a two-time national champion, Tebow could easily be argued as the best college QB in NCAA history.
Vince Young — Texas
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Years Played: 2003-2005
Career Stats: 37 Games | 6,040 yards, 44 TD, 28 INT // 3,127 rushing yards, 37 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Tennessee Titans | First Round — 3rd Overall
Accolades
BCS National Champion (2005)
Maxwell Award Winner (2005)
Consensus All-American (2005)
Big 12 Player of the Year (2005)
Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Member (2018)
Our Analysis: Vince Young had a legendary college career, highlighted by his national championship win over the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl. He had a bit of a frustrating NFL career, but there was nothing quite like watching him at Texas.
Cam Newton — Auburn
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Years Played: 2007-2010
Career Stats: 20 Games | 2,908 yards, 30 TD, 7 INT // 1,486 rushing yards, 24 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Carolina Panthers | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2010)
BCS National Champion (2010)
Maxwell Award Winner (2010)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2010)
Consensus All-American (2010)
SEC Player of the Year (2010)
Our Analysis: This one will always be hard to talk about for Oregon Duck fans. Cam Newton’s 2010 season was remarkable, winning the Heisman Trophy and beating the Ducks in the BCS National Championship game thanks to some questionable officiating (Dwyer was down). Newton went on to be a transcendent NFL player as well, and is deservedly near the top of this list.
Baker Mayfield — Oklahoma
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Years Played: 2013-2017
Career Stats: 48 Games | 14,607 yards, 131 TD, 30 INT // 1,083 rushing yards, 21 TD
NFL Draft Pick: Cleveland Browns | First Round — 1st Overall
Accolades
Heisman Trophy Winner (2017)
Maxwell Award Winner (2017)
Walter Camp Award Winner (2017)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2017)
2x Big 12 Player of the Year (2015, 2017)
Sugar Bowl MVP (2017)
Our Analysis: I think that Baker Mayfield deserves to be near the top of this list. The best QB in college football since 2000, though? I don’t know that I would go that far. He was an incredible player at Oklahoma and his 2017 season is among the best we’ve seen. Things haven’t quite played out the same way in the NFL, though.
