Nate Costa heard the whispers seven years ago — Marcus Mariota, his team’s quarterback, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and one of the top prospects entering the 2015 NFL Draft might not have what it takes to lead an NFL locker room.
“There were always those red flags coming out of college,” Costa said. “It was all about him not being a vocal leader and all that type of stuff. In the end, that was just fodder for the media. I just don’t think people got to see it like I got to see it.”
After Mariota succeeded him at quarterback at Oregon, Costa returned to the school as a graduate assistant coach in 2013. By that time Mariota already was a star. Costa had heard the buzz before he ever saw Mariota on the practice field. Then he saw it with his own eyes.
“I never got a grasp on it until I got back to the program,” Costa said.
He saw intelligence, intangibles, athleticism, the total package, he said. Still, he heard those whispers. It was never “this guy can’t” lead an NFL team. It was “maybe this guy can’t” lead an NFL team.
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