Marcus Mariota hasn’t exactly been a household name during this college football season. Other quarterbacks in the country have been given more recognition. Other members of his Oregon Ducks team have been given more credit.
That may be getting ready to change.
Oregon’s high powered offense has established the Ducks as a leading BCS Championship contender. On Saturday night in a 59-17 demolition of California, Mariota validated that position.
Against the Bears, the Oregon signal caller completed 27 of 34 passes for 377 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He added 42 yards rushing, giving him 419 yards total offense. It was the second consecutive game for the freshman from Honolulu to reach the 400-yard mark in total offense. A week earlier, he threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 96 more as the Ducks scored 62 points against Southern Cal.
For his performance against California, Mariota has been named the NRA/Lindy’s Gunslinger of the Week.
Throughout the 2012 season, the top passing performance in college football each week will be honored with this recognition from the National Rifle Association and Lindy’s Sports. At the end of the season, the NRA/Lindy’s National Gunslinger of the Year will be named.