Remembering Heisman Finalists as College Football Recruits

Before the nation knew their names through bowl games, big performances, award shows and NFL mock drafts, the 2014 Heisman Trophy finalists were just three of the countless high school football players looking for an opportunity at the collegiate level.

Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon and Amari Cooper each carved out reputations as young players, earning scholarship offers and embarking on careers that ultimately led them to the hallowed ceremony in Manhattan. This trio of playmakers have made their mark on the college landscape just a few years after sorting through uniquely different recruiting processes.

Obviously, things have worked out well since their respective signing days. With one of these young standouts destined for college football immortality, we take a look back at the recruitments that eventually led them to national stardom.

3-star quarterback Marcus Mariota, St. Louis High School (Honolulu, Hawaii)

The three-year Ducks starter didn't land on the radar for many top-level FBS programs despite a brilliant career at St. Louis School in Hawaii. He led the Crusaders to 11 wins and a state title in 2010, completing 64.7 percent of his passes for nearly 2,600 yards and 32 touchdowns, per his Oregon bio.

Mariota added 455 rushing yards and seven scores as a senior, earning distinction as the Honolulu Offensive Player of the Year. He attended a camp at Oregon prior to the 2010 season, showcasing his skills for the Ducks' coaching staff.

Oregon was the only Pac-12 program to offer Mariota, who also considered Memphis. He became a necessity for the Ducks after eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel flipped his commitment to Texas A&M.

College coaches are on a tight schedule when it comes to recruiting, so a journey to Hawaii may not make sense from a logistical standpoint.

“You never wanted to lose a day, so you always had to do the red-eye going home,” former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel told Ben Cohen of The Wall Street Journal. “That was a nightmare.”

The journey of Mariota, who was rated just 35th nationally among all 2011 quarterback prospects in 247Sports' composite rankings, provides some extra incentive for a long flight.

“Every coach is going to turn over every rock to find a hidden gem like Oregon did with Marcus,” former St. Louis head coach Darnell Arceneaux told Cohen.

Despite arriving on campus rated 518th among incoming college football freshmen, he quickly forged a strong reputation in Eugene.

“He’s everything you want,” former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He can throw the ball, he can run. He’s the most talented kid I coached in college. …When he was a freshman I remarked, ‘This kid’s going to win the Heisman.’”

Mariota, who has 53 total touchdowns and just two interceptions this season, is the front-runner to end up at the winner's podium Saturday.

4-star running back Melvin Gordon, Bradford High School (Kenosha, Wisconsin)

The nation's leading rusher is less than 300 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders' all-time single-season college record (2,628). Gordon also established a new single-game record this fall—though it lasted just a week—with 408 yards against Nebraska.

He also ran wild in high school, gaining over 2,000 yards and 38 scores on the ground as a senior en route to all-state honors, according to his Wisconsin bio. Gordon was a four-year impact player who tallied 15 touchdowns as a freshman in high school.

Rated 18th nationally among running backs in 247Sports' 2011 composite rankings, Gordon received heavy interest in Big Ten territory. Offers arrived from Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan State.

However, his recruitment never seemed to materialize much beyond the region. Tennessee was the only SEC team to extend an offer.

“I just think a lot of times they look at it like, 'Hey, we don’t have to go to Wisconsin to get a running back because we got six or seven kids down here,'” Bradford coach Jed Kennedy told Josh Moyer of ESPN.com. “They come up here for linemen, but they don’t look at the skill kids. I don’t know why.”

Gordon, ranked 258th overall in the class, elected to stay in-state with the Badgers. He's thrived with more than 4,500 rushing yards in three full seasons, and he is expected to help carry the load in an NFL backfield next season.

Credit: 247Sports

4-star wide receiver Amari Cooper, Northwestern High School (Miami, Florida)

The Crimson Tide star carved his name into record books this season, becoming the all-time leading receiver at Alabama and the single-season receptions king of SEC football. He arrived on campus as a key piece of Nick Saban's top-ranked 2012 recruiting class that also featured defensive back Landon Collins and running back T.J. Yeldon.

Cooper, rated sixth nationally among receivers in 247Sports' composite rankings for the class of 2012, caught 33 passes for 722 yards as a senior in Northwestern's run-heavy offensive attack, per his Alabama bio. He showcased his skills in the Under Armour All-America Game, catching a 75-yard score and returning a punt 93 yards for another touchdown.

He made an official visit to Miami two months before signing day but ultimately ended up at Alabama. His offer sheet also featured Florida State, West Virginia and Ohio State.

Cooper commanded Saban's attention during his junior year, when he attended a camp in Tuscaloosa. Saban told Charlie Potter of BamaOnLine:

"

I walked away from that camp saying that this guy might be the best receiver we’ve ever had in our camps, and we’ve had some really good ones. … He may have been the most impressive, to me, in terms of his ability, his ability to change direction and get out of a break, the quickness, the acceleration of speed, good hands, hard worker.

"

That performance was a sign of things to come for Cooper, who enters the College Football Playoff with 115 catches for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He will likely be the first receiver selected in next year's NFL draft. A strong postseason would strengthen his case as one of the greatest players in Alabama's storied history.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.