When he takes the field for his first NFL regular-season game Sunday, quarterback Marcus Mariota will be representing more than just the Titans.He’ll carry the hopes of an island state, a foreign nation and an entire culture.A native of Hawaii and half Samoan, Mariota last year became the first person of Polynesian descent to win the Heisman Trophy.He’ll chart a different course beginning Sunday, hoping one day to become the first NFL standout quarterback from Polynesia, a region consisting of hundreds of islands in the central and south Pacific including Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Tonga.“As far as breaking stereotypes and boundaries, Marcus winning the Heisman and doing the things he’s done in the preseason have really opened up opportunities for local boys,” said Darnell Arceneaux, Mariota’s high school coach in Honolulu. “Whether it’s been in Hawaii, Samoa or wherever it may be for Polynesians, I think he’s already helped them quite a bit.”The NFL has seen many players of Polynesian descent over the years make an impact, a group that includes former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, the late Junior Seau, Lions nose tackle Haloti Ngata, former Titans center Kevin Mawae and former 49ers lineman Jesse Sapolu.Seau just last month became the first player of Polynesian descent inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Pacific pipeline of players to the NFL shows no signs of decline. According to a \Forbes\ article in May, there were 70 players of Polynesian descent in the NFL, 30 from the island of American Samoa alone.In this year’s NFL draft, five of the first 66 players selected — Mariota, Browns defensive tackle Danny Shelton, Saints linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha, Browns defensive end Nate Orchard and Titans tackle Jeremiah Poutasi — had Polynesian roots.But one of the few NFL positions where success has eluded those of Polynesian descent is quarterback, where the region can only point to Jack \The Throwin’ Samoan\ Thompson and Marques Tuiasosopo.Thompson posted 5,315 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 45 interceptions during his six-year NFL career, while Tuiasosopo played in only 13 games over eight seasons.“A lot of times you have the stereotype of Polynesians like Seau,” Arceneaux said, “or the big men of stature that really dominated the physical aspect of football in the trenches.”Enter Mariota, whose accomplishments to date — leading Oregon to the national championship game, winning the Heisman and becoming the second overall pick in the draft — have already led to a huge Polynesian fan base.“You’ve hardly ever heard of a Polynesian quarterback, so this is a really big thing — like the World Cup for them back home,” said defensive lineman Isaako Aaitui, a native of American Samoa who was cut by the Titans last week.“It’s a major, major event. We’re all going to be watching him and cheering for him because he’s not only representing himself and his family, he’s representing the Polynesians.”Mariota is typically deferential when it comes to discussing his role as a potential groundbreaker, noting that players like Thompson and Tuiasosopo paved the way for him.“Those guys really set the bar high and opened doors for us as athletes,” Mariota said. “I’m just a product of them, and I hope as the generations continue forward, that they will ask who those people are and we can always give thanks.”But he acknowledged that his heritage is very important to him.