Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota - one of the most exciting young players in the NFL - will be the featured speaker at this year's Times Free Press Best of Preps banquet. The banquet is set for 6 p.m. on June 14 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
For information on the banquet and tickets, go to bestofprepschatt.com.
Mariota was the second overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Titans and already has broken numerous franchise and league records, including being the first rookie in NFL history to finish with a perfect passer rating in his debut.
He led the Titans to a 10-win season and an AFC wild-card win in last season's playoffs before they fell to the Patriots in the divisional round.
"Marcus Mariota is a great role model both on and off the field," said Times Free Press marketing and events manager Kate Brennan. "From leading the Titans to the playoffs to his devoted work in the community, he truly represents the type of well-rounded individual we want to showcase to our local student-athletes. We are excited to have him as our speaker this year as we celebrate our area's student-athletes."
Mariota won the 2014 Heisman Trophy as a junior at Oregon, where he became known as one of the most electrifying dual-threat quarterbacks in college history. He was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection and started every game of his three-year collegiate career, breaking every school passing record and leading the Ducks to the 2015 national championship game.
He completed at least one touchdown pass in all 41 games during his three seasons there, which ranks second in NCAA history, and became one of four players in FBS history to pass for more than 10,000 yards (10,796) and run for more than 2,000 (2,237) in a career.
Mariota is known for being a leader in the locker room, both at Oregon and already with the Titans, and had the NFL's top-selling jersey before he even played his first game as a professional.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Mariota launched a foundation that serves the communities at all three levels of his playing career: Honolulu, Eugene, Ore., and Middle Tennessee.
"Marcus Mariota's remarkable career is an inspiration to all youth who are working hard to achieve their dreams," said Lisa McCluskey, vice president of marketing and communications for CHI Memorial, which is the title sponsor of the event. "He's remarkable off the field as well, building a foundation to support youth in Hawaii, working with the homeless and making certain children have back-to-school supplies, which fits very well with CHI Memorial's mission to create healthy communities.
"We've been a partner since Best of Preps started and we're very committed and proud to be a part of this event, which is a phenomenal way to honor the youth in our area who excel in athletics."
As a rookie, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound quarterback validated his draft selection by posting the third-highest passer rating in franchise history and the fifth-highest rookie completion percentage in NFL history. He was the first player in franchise history to open his rookie season in Week 1 as the starting quarterback and joined Peyton Manning as only the second NFL rookie to throw three touchdown passes in four different games.
Mariota credits much of his athletic success to playing soccer in his youth. By the time he was 8 years old, he was wearing a soccer jersey with the number 8, and he has kept the jersey number ever since.
He attended Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, where he threw for 2,597 yards, 32 touchdowns and only five interceptions in leading the Crusaders to an 11-1 record and a state title as a senior.
The Best of Preps banquet is sponsored also by Chattem and The Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.