Oregon vs.Utah

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8). The Oregon Ducks play the Utah Utes, Nov 8, 2014, at Rice Eccles Stadium, in Salt Lake City. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

(Thomas Boyd)

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is special.

It doesn't take much to see that now, as the Ducks signal-caller has thrown for 2,780 yards, 29 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while rushing for 524 yards and eight scores.

However, in high school Mariota was far from a slam dunk to ever be an Oregon starter, let alone a Heisman Trophy favorite.

The Hawaiian prospect, rated outside the top 100 quarterback recruits in the nation by ESPN, wasn't on the radar of many schools and was practically considered a throw-in piece to an Oregon class that was rated No. 9 in the country by Rivals in 2011.

Recruiting services have mostly gotten it right when it comes to Heisman Trophy winners and finalists, but not this year.

Not in "The Year of Diamonds in the Rough."

Here's a look at how the last several Heisman winners were rated by Rivals coming out of high school:

2013 - Florida State QB Jameis Winston, 5*, No. 1 dual-threat QB

2012 - Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, 3*, No. 14 dual-threat QB

2011 - Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, 4*, No. 4 dual-threat QB

2010 - Auburn QB Cam Newton, 5*, No. 2 dual-threat QB

2009 - Alabama RB Mark Ingram, 4*, No. 17 athlete

2008 - Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, 3*, No. 12 QB

2007 - Florida QB Tim Tebow, 5*, No. 1 dual-threat QB

2006 - Ohio State QB Troy Smith, 4*, No. 12 dual-threat QB

2005 - USC RB Reggie Bush, 4*, No. 1 RB

With the exception of Manziel and Bradford, who were both still rated top 15 quarterbacks nationally, every Heisman Trophy winner dating back to 2005 was considered a high-end prospect.

This year's list of likely finalists for college football's most coveted award is a completely different story. Of the top five players in ESPN's Heisman poll, only one was a consensus high-end recruit, and Mariota, the current favorite, was rated the lowest of them all.

Here's a look at how the top Heisman Trophy candidates were evaluated in high school:

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota

Rivals: 3*, No. 12 dual-threat QB

ESPN: 2*, No. 123 QB

Scout: 3*, No. 34 QB

Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott

Rivals: 3*

ESPN: 3*, No. 41 QB

Scout: 3*, No. 70 QB

Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon

Rivals: 4*, No. 24 RB

ESPN: 3*, No. 39 RB

Scout: 3*, No. 38 RB

TCU QB Trevone Boykin

Rivals: 3*, No. 24 QB

ESPN: 2*, No. 118 QB

Scout: 3*, No. 37 QB

Alabama WR Amari Cooper

Rivals: 4*, No. 6 WR

ESPN: 4*, No. 7 WR

Scout: 4*, No. 12 WR

The first season of the four-team playoff has already been a wild affair. It seems only fitting the Heisman Trophy contenders are equally topsy-turvy.

It's officially The Year of Diamonds in the Rough.

Mariota's high school highlights:

-- Andrew Nemec | @AndrewNemec