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Oregon QB Marcus Mariota wins Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy finalists Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, left, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, center, and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota pose with the trophy during a news conference prior to the announcement of the winner, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Heisman Trophy finalists Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, left, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, center, and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota pose with the trophy during a news conference prior to the announcement of the winner, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

By Associated Press December 13, 2014 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Marcus Mariota has won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Oregon player to earn college football’s top individual honor.

A pinpoint passer with wide-receiver speed, Mariota came into his junior the season as the favorite to win the Heisman and delivered a performance that turned the presentation ceremony into a foregone conclusion.

The first Hawaii native to win the Heisman has accounted for a Pac-12-record 53 touchdowns (38 passing, 14 rushing and one receiving) while directing the Ducks’ warp-speed spread offense, and leading Oregon to a spot in the first College Football Playoff.

It will be a matchup of Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the Rose Bowl semifinal Jan. 1 with Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks facing Florida State and Jameis Winston.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrusoAP