OSU’s Marvin Harrison Jr. claims 2023 Biletnikoff Award for most outstanding receiver

Marvin Harrison Jr. beat LSU's Malik Nabers to win the prestigious honor.

OSU’s Marvin Harrison Jr. claims 2023 Biletnikoff Award for most outstanding receiver

Marvin Harrison Jr. (Image via FOX Sports)

Even though Marvin Harrison Jr. did not get to play in the college football playoffs, the young Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver can keep his head up with stellar performances that have earned him a Heisman Trophy nomination. But first, he has another reason to rejoice.

Harrison, who many believe to be one of the best prospects that could enter the 2024 NFL draft, has been conferred with the title of best wide receiver in college football. On Friday night, the Ohio State playmaker edged out the likes of Malik Nabers of LSU and Washington’s Rome Odunze to bring home the 2023 Biletnikoff Award.

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In 2021, Marvin Harrison Jr. joined the Buckeyes as a four-star recruit from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Pennsylvania. He is the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. During his freshman year at OSU, Harrison Jr. redshirted for the Big 10 Juggernauts.

2022, his seventh year, was the 21-year-old’s breakout season. He recorded 77 catches for 14 touchdowns with an average of 16.4 yards. However, the 2023 season is his best. In 12 games, he completed 67 receptions for 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, for an average of 17.6 yards.

Malik Nabers disappointed after losing out on the Biletnikoff Award to Marvin Harrison Jr.

There’s always one winner at the end of the day. While all the spoils go to the victor, those who missed out feel hard done by. According to reports from On3.com, Harrison beat out Nabers by just a solitary vote. This has never happened before in the history of the award.

Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Via open source/X)

The 20-year-old had an equally excellent campaign as Marvin Harrison Jr. Nabers played only 11 games but caught the ball 86 times for 1,546 receiving yards and scored 14 touchdowns. After the announcement, the LSU playmaker took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his disappointment: 

REMEMBER THAT!! So disrespectful.
Malik Nabers on X

Nabers may yet get another chance in the future to settle the score with Harrison if the OSU WR decides to return to play his senior year of college football. During a recent interview, he claimed to have unfinished business.

Marvin is still to play in the CFP, and on top of that, in two attempts, he hasn’t managed to beat the Buckeyes’ arch-nemesis, the Michigan Wolverines. That’s motivation enough to delay the urge to play in the NFL.

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