USA TODAY Sports Heisman Survey: Marcus Mariota leads

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has been here before. Almost exactly a year ago, in fact.

Mariota received all but two of the first-place votes Monday in this season's first USA TODAY Sports survey of Heisman Trophy voters. He started last year's survey in the same spot, but, hampered by a knee injury, he did not finish among the top 10 of the official voting at the end of the regular-season.

Following Mariota in the voting this week are Todd Gurley of Georgia and Kenny Hill of Texas A&M.

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston opened last season at No. 2 and ultimately won college football's top individual honor. In this season's first survey, however, he received a lone third-place vote from the 27 reporters and editors working at properties owned by Gannett, USA TODAY Sports' parent company.

Winston, hounded by multiple off-field issues, was suspended for Saturday's 23-17 overtime victory against then-No. 24 Clemson. FSU is ranked No. 1 in the Amway Coaches Poll and won last season's national championship.

There is a diversity of positions among candidates as this year's survey debuts. Three running backs and a wide receiver join five quarterbacks who received votes from the panel. Last year's first survey had eight quarterbacks.

Breaking down the ballots (three points are awarded for a first-place votes, two for second and one for third):

1. QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: 25-2-0=77 points
2. RB Todd Gurley, Georgia: 0-4-5=33
3. QB Kenny Hill, Texas A&M: 0-6-5=17
4. WR Amari Cooper, Alabama: 2-2-5=15
5. RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska: 0-2-3=7
6. RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin: 0-2-2=6
7. QB Everett Golson, Notre Dame: 0-1-3=5
8. QB Bryce Petty, Baylor: 0-0-1=1
9. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State: 0-0-1=1