Marcus Mariota has chosen California-based Rep 1 Sports to negotiate his playing contracts following the 2015 NFL Draft, as reported by Liz Mullen at Sports Business Daily. Rep 1 Sports looks to add to its large client base, which includes the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Ben Roethlisberger, and the 3rd overall pick in 2014, Blake Bortles.
Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 42 touchdowns with only 4 INTs last season and led the Oregon Ducks to the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship, falling short to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 42-20.
Expected to be a high first-round selection, the redshirt junior from Honolulu earned Pac-12 First Team All-Conference honors in each of the three years spent under center at Oregon, generating a 36-5 win-loss record and completing 67% of his passes in his collegiate career.
There are several rumors surrounding Mariota and his eventual fate on draft night, but one thing can be agreed on – the guy can play. Trending as an extremely athletic quarterback that is deadly in the pocket and dangerous on his feet, Mariota’s reputation as a proven leader and great teammate has cemented his position atop the list of quarterbacks on the board this year for many organizations and experts. Mariota is still unsure whether he will participate in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis next week after spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder in his final collegiate contest.
Led by cousins Bruce and Ryan Tollner, Rep 1 Sports has over 65 years of combined experience in contract negotiation. Priding themselves on top-tier attention and maximizing marketability, Rep 1 Sports is known for putting the athlete first. When asked why her son chose to sign with Rep 1 Sports, Mariota’s mother, Alana Deppe-Mariota, told the Star-Advertiser that he felt it would be the “best fit” for him and he liked the “family focus.”
While Rep 1 Sports will handle Mariota’s contract negotiations, last month, Mariota signed with Excel Sports Management for his off the field ventures, including marketing and brand management.