Marcus Mariota: 2015 NFL Combine Results, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

Marcus Mariota currently finds himself in a hotly contested battle with fellow Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston for the top quarterback spot in the 2015 NFL draft class. It could determine the first overall pick, and the NFL Scouting Combine didn't provide a definite answer.

Mariota is viewed as the safer option because of his demeanor and lack of off-field issues. Winston has more upside, but he also comes with more risk. Amid speculation the Florida State product might have the inside edge, the Oregon star said he's not worried about it, as noted by Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com.

"It doesn't really affect me at all," Mariota said. "That's going to be their opinion. That's going to be their decision. All I can really control is how I prepare and get ready for whatever team picks me."

He also said he plans on making an impact right away in the NFL. Here's a look at how he performed at the combine:

Drill	Result (Position Rank)
40-Yard Dash	4.52u (1)
Bench Press	DNP
Vertical Jump	36"
Broad Jump	10'1"
3-Cone Drill	TBA
20-Yard Shuttle	TBA
60-Yard Shuttle	TBA

Here are some highlights from the workout:

NFL Network passed along some initial thoughts from draft guru Mike Mayock:

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network noted Mariota's decision to bulk up paid off because he still showcased plenty of speed:

Josina Anderson of ESPN noticed only one minor technical flaw in the 40:

The raw numbers resulted in a comparison to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers from NFL Network:

After the quarterbacks finished with the much-ballyhooed event, they moved into the throwing drills.

CollegeFootball 24/7 was impressed with Mariota's deep throws:

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times provided some passing numbers:

Matt Lombardo of NJ.com also liked what he saw, particularly because the quarterbacks are working with new receivers:

John Middlekauff of Comcast SportsNet thinks the top two quarterbacks are well on their way to locking down the first two picks:

In the end, the competition between Mariota and Winston may have actually heated up Saturday. The Oregon star had the advantage in the athletic events, but that was expected, and they both handled the throwing portion well.

There will be no shortage of opinions expressed in the next couple of months. The only one that matters is that of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Mariota can earn their faith, his name will be the first one called on draft day.