Is this award a precursor to a Heisman trophy win for Oregon QB Marcus Mariota?
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Oregon Ducks QB Marcus Mariota was named the winner of the 2014 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
The award is given out to the “nation’s top quarterback who best exemplifies character, scholastic and academic achievement,” according to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Inc. and Transamerica.
Mariota has completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions. He leads the nation in yards per attempt (10.2) and is in the top 10 nationally in yards per completion (14.9), third-down passing conversion (48.9 percent) and touchdowns to pass attempt ratio (10.2 percent). Additionally, he has rushed for 669 yards and 14 touchdowns.
To win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Mariota beat out UCLA’s Brett Hundley, USC’s Cody Kessler, Baylor’s Bryce Petty, and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott.
On Monday Mariota was named one of the three finalists for the 2014 Heisman Trophy award, along with Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon and Alabama WR Amari Cooper.
The last Heisman trophy winner to take home the award was Matt Leinart of USC in 2005, but the last player to win both awards in the same year was Carson Palmer in 2002.
Among active NFL starting QBs who have won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award are Palmer, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Colt McCoy and Andrew Luck.
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