For the first time, an Oregon Duck and a Hawaii native won the Heisman Trophy in the person of Marcus Mariota. Published on YouTube on Dec. 13, Saturday, Mariota’s Heisman Trophy speech has gone viral.

A redshirt junior from the University of Oregon who hails from Honolulu, Mariota accounted for a total of 53 touchdowns against two interceptions only. He also led his team to a 12-1 record, the Pacific-12 championship and the number two seed in the College Football Playoff.

With 2,534 points, which is 90.9 percent of the maximum possible for a winner, Mariota is the modern era’s second-highest percentage closely behind only Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith with 91.6 percent in 2006.

Mariota beat two finalists, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon with 1,250 points and Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper with 1,023 points. While Gordon ran for the fourth-highest yardage in a single season in the history of National Collegiate Athletic Association, Cooper made a record as the first receiver invited to the Heisman ceremony since 2003.

After character issues involving previous Heisman winners Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston, Mariota has also become regarded as the ideal student-athlete of the NCAA.Mariota’s pal Taylor Troy told The New York Times that he has always had “a different mind-set than everyone else.”

“Fa'afetai tele lava,” Mariota ended his Heisman Trophy speech expressing his gratitude in Samoan. “God bless, and go Ducks.”
Watch Mariota wearing Hawaiian and Samoan leis around his neck while delivering his emotional Heisman Trophy speech here:

Credits: YouTube/Aotearoa News