Commanders Marcus Mariota Helps College Into National Title Contention
Commanders Marcus Mariota Helps College Into National Title Contention originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Washington Commanders have a plethora of stars on the roster that are easy to root for. They also have some underrated players that carry plenty of respect around the league as well.
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One of the best players who fits the latter category is backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. The former second overall pick of the Tennessee Titans has become a journeyman over the years, but has found a nice home in the nation's capital.
He hasn't forgotten where he came from, though.
Mariota is a Heisman Trophy winner from Oregon. During his career in college, he led the Ducks to the National Championship Game. Ever since, Mariota has always looked to help the Ducks in anyway he can.
The latest example came ahead of the College Softball World Series. Oregon staved off elimination on Friday in a 6-5 thriller against Ole Miss. As the team moved on for a future battle on Sunday, Mariota took part in a hype video by the school's social media team.
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'Built by those before us, strengthened by those beside us, carried on by those behind us,' he said in the video. 'When belief meets the moment, champions are made.'
The video ends on an inspiring note — a message that Ducks fans and players alike will carry with them as the team chases its first-ever WCWS title.
Mariota isn't afraid to leave parting messages of wisdom to his former school. As a leader, he was always someone who people looked up to - both with the Commanders and in college.
Time will tell if his message works for the Ducks on Sunday.
Related: Commanders Trade Paying Off As A Steal as Deebo Stars at OTAs
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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