Heisman Finalists 2014: Predictions for Candidates' Order of Finish

One college football player is about to become a legend Saturday without even picking up a ball. 

Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Alabama’s Amari Cooper are the finalists for the 2014 Heisman Trophy, and the winner will enter a distinguished and private fraternity of players who have become almost mythological figures and heroes.

The only question now is who will take the trophy home. Here is a look at the predicted order of finish for the three candidates:

Rank	Player	School	Position
1	Marcus Mariota	Oregon	QB
2	Melvin Gordon	Wisconsin	RB
3	Amari Cooper	Alabama	WR

Marcus Mariota

While Gordon dazzled this season on his way to 2,336 rushing yards and Cooper wowed NFL scouts and college football fans alike with 1,656 receiving yards, this choice is clear for the 2014 Heisman.

The case for Mariota begins with the raw statistics.

Mariota led the entire country in passing efficiency at 186.3, tallied a Pac-12 record 53 touchdowns (38 of which were passing touchdowns), threw for 3,783 yards, ran for 669 yards and even threw in a receiving touchdown among those 53 scores for good measure. 

College GameDay recognized Mariota’s statistical success, but it was Paul Myerberg of USA Today who passed along the most ridiculous number of all for the Oregon quarterback:

Incredibly, Mariota threw a measly two interceptions the entire season. That is ultimately what separates him from the rest of the Heisman field and country as a whole. Oregon runs a fast-pace, high-octane offense that incorporates a number of different looks, misdirection and personnel packages. They may confuse an opposing defense, but never Mariota.

The raw number of plays the Ducks run would suggest that Mariota threw at least a handful of interceptions because of a larger sample size, but he always protected the ball.

For context, Florida State’s Jameis Winston, who won the Heisman last season, threw 17 picks this year.

The most important stat regarding Mariota, though, is 12, which is the number of wins he led the Ducks to this season. They reached the College Football Playoff as a result and earned a Pac-12 title and some revenge on Arizona—the only team to beat Oregon this year—along the way.

TROY WAYRYNEN/Associated Press

Mariota has already collected plenty of hardware for his season, including the Maxwell Award as the country’s most outstanding player, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Mariota discussed all the recognition, via ESPN.com:

"

It's surreal. It's surreal. It really all is. Growing up as a kid you always kind of see these award shows. To say that I'm a part of really this fraternity ... it's really just a blessing.

Being from Hawaii, being kinda quiet and reserved to now being a little more vocal and being a part of a special team, it's come a long way for me. It's all been such a blessing.

"

Mariota’s future is unsurprisingly bright, even though he hasn’t officially declared for the 2015 NFL draft.

He could very well be the top pick in that draft, or at least the top quarterback, and those questions that have dogged Oregon quarterbacks in the past simply don’t apply to Mariota. He is not a system quarterback, not too small (listed at 6’4” and 219 pounds) and can make plays both inside and outside the pocket with his arm and legs.

Before the NFL, though, is a date with Florida State, which has managed to find a way to win every time it takes the field this season despite narrow calls against North Carolina State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Florida, Clemson, Boston College and Georgia Tech, among others.

Steve Dykes/Associated Press

While the Seminoles certainly deserve all the credit in the world for coming away victorious, there has been a considerable talent gap in their favor every time. That talent gap won’t exist for Winston and company in the Rose Bowl. 

It’s only right that the new Heisman winner ends the old Heisman winner’s bid at a second straight national championship.

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