Reese's Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage confirmed prior to the event's Tuesday morning weigh-in that Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has declined an invitation to the game.
Savage had held out hope that the Heisman Trophy winner would participate and didn't receive word about Mariota's final decision until very recently. However, Savage included Mariota in a group of players who declined invitations whom he told coaches and scouts "did it the right way."
Among others in that group were South Carolina guard A.J. Cann, Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff, Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, Louisville receiver DeVante Parker and Missouri offensive lineman Mitch Morse.
Although an underclassman in terms of NCAA eligibility, Mariota was eligible for the Senior Bowl because he has graduated; he has filed for early eligibility for the 2015 NFL Draft. Ten such players will enter the 2015 draft, along with 74 true underclassmen.
The Senior Bowl typically carries six quarterbacks, and has six without Mariota, but Savage has said he would have taken on Mariota as a special circumstance as a seventh quarterback.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
