Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes wins the Big Ten Silver Football Award. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the Big Ten’s most valuable player and a unanimous All-American.
“I never imagined that I’d be in this position now, and I think that coming in as a freshman, those are dreams that are very, very far away,” he remarked last week at a press conference. Therefore, I believe that as you get closer to it, you still begin to recognize the progress you’re making.
After quarterback Justin Fields in 2020, Harrison is Ohio State’s 23rd honoree and first since then. He is the first receiver from Ohio State to win the trophy; Lee Gissendaner of Northwestern won it the last time it was given to a receiver in 1992.
Since Lee Gissendaner of Northwestern won it in 1992, no receiver has won the prize before, and he is the first from Ohio State to do so.”It’s kind of crazy how they didn’t win any awards or be nominated for the accolades that I’ve been getting recognized for,” Harrison explained, pointing to the excellent receivers who have passed through this place. It’s an honor for me, therefore, I say.
In addition to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver over the weekend, Harrison was already a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the country’s most outstanding player.”To be honest, I just want to speak for that receiver room specifically so that everyone knows that Ohio State produces excellent wide receivers and that we are still deserving of the same recognition as the rest of the nation,” Harrison remarked.
In addition to being the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound player is also the receiver of the year, having averaged 100.9 receiving yards per game and 14 touchdown receptions. He is already the first Ohio State player to record multiple seasons with 1,000 yards receiving (1,210 yards).
.Harrison ranks third in touchdown catches (31) and sixth all-time at Ohio State in terms of receiving yards (2,613) and receptions (155).No Buckeye has at least 100 receiving yards in more than 15 games.
He made history last year when he became the first wide receiver for the Buckeyes to be selected as a unanimous All-American by the five main selectors: the Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, and AFCA.
37 unanimous All-Americans have come from Ohio State, but only Harrison, halfback Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, tailback Archie Griffin, offensive lineman Orlando Pace, and Troy fullback Bob Ferguson have won the title twice.