Marvin Harrison Jr college career at Ohio State became one of the most productive three-year runs by a wide receiver in Buckeyes history. From a limited freshman role in 2021 to consecutive 1,200-yard seasons, Harrison developed into a national award winner and one of the most decorated receivers the program has produced.
Harrison played for Ohio State from 2021 through 2023. He finished with 155 receptions, 2,613 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns in 38 games.
His final two seasons produced the bulk of that production. Harrison recorded 1,263 receiving yards in 2022 and 1,211 yards in 2023. He also scored 14 receiving touchdowns in each season.
By the time his college career ended, Harrison had won the Biletnikoff Award, earned unanimous All-American honors twice and become a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Arrived at Ohio State in 2021
Harrison entered Ohio State as part of the program’s 2021 recruiting class. The Philadelphia native came from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, where he had already established himself as one of Pennsylvania’s top high school receivers.
Ohio State listed him as a four-star prospect and the No. 91 player nationally in the 2021 recruiting class. He also ranked as the top wide receiver in Pennsylvania.
His arrival placed him in a crowded receiver group. Ohio State had several established pass catchers, including Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
That competition limited Harrison’s opportunities during his first season.
He appeared in 13 games during the 2021 campaign and finished with 11 receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns.
Those numbers did not reveal what was coming during the next two seasons.
Harrison’s freshman season ended with a memorable performance in the Rose Bowl against Utah. He caught six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns.
The three touchdown receptions tied a Rose Bowl record and gave Ohio State fans an early glimpse of his ability to become a major offensive weapon.
The 2022 Season Changed His College Career
Harrison’s second season brought a dramatic increase in his role.
He became one of Ohio State’s primary receiving targets and produced numbers that placed him among the nation’s top wide receivers.
In 13 games, Harrison caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 16.4 yards per reception showed that his production did not come simply from short completions.
He consistently created large gains and became a major factor in Ohio State’s passing attack.
His performance against Penn State stood out. Harrison caught 10 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown in Ohio State’s road victory. Every one of his 10 receptions produced a first down.
That performance became one of the defining games of his sophomore season.
Harrison also scored three touchdowns against Arkansas State and later produced another three-touchdown game against Michigan State.
By the end of the season, his national profile had changed completely.
He earned unanimous first-team All-American recognition and became Ohio State’s first unanimous All-American receiver.
He also won the Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Wide Receiver of the Year award.
The Biletnikoff Award committee named Harrison a finalist for the nation’s top receiver honor, although he did not win the award that season.
A Historic 2023 Campaign
Harrison returned to Ohio State for the 2023 season with expectations that came with being one of the country’s most recognizable college football players.
He responded with another outstanding statistical campaign.
Harrison played 12 games and finished with 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. His average of 18.1 yards per reception was higher than his 2022 figure.
He also averaged 100.9 receiving yards per game.
The 2023 season gave Harrison his second straight 1,000-yard campaign. That achievement was especially significant at Ohio State because he became the first receiver in program history to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
His 1,263 yards in 2022 rank among Ohio State’s top single-season receiving totals. His 1,211 yards in 2023 also rank near the top of the school’s record book.
Harrison finished the season with eight games of at least 100 receiving yards, tying the Ohio State single-season record.
He also established the program’s career record with 15 100-yard receiving games.
Those numbers helped define the consistency of his final two seasons.
Biletnikoff Award Added to His Resume
The 2023 season brought Harrison the biggest individual award of his college career.
He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s outstanding receiver.
The honor made him only the second Ohio State player to win the award. Terry Glenn previously received it in 1995.
Harrison had been a finalist the previous season. One year later, he completed the progression by taking home the award.
His 2023 production supported his place among the country’s leading receivers. He ranked third nationally in receiving touchdowns with 14 and finished among the national leaders in receiving yards and receiving yards per game.
The Biletnikoff Award became one of several major honors Harrison collected during his final season.
Two-Time Unanimous All-American
Harrison’s college résumé also includes two unanimous All-American selections.
He earned the honor in 2022 and repeated it in 2023.
The second selection was especially notable because it placed Harrison among a small group of players in Big Ten history to receive unanimous All-American recognition twice.
At Ohio State, he became the program’s only two-time unanimous All-American receiver.
The achievement reflected his production across two consecutive seasons rather than a single standout campaign.
His 2022 season produced 77 receptions, 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.
His 2023 season followed with 67 receptions, 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Together, those seasons accounted for 144 receptions, 2,474 receiving yards and 28 receiving touchdowns.
Big Ten Honors During His Final Two Seasons
Harrison also dominated the Big Ten’s individual receiver awards.
He won the Richter-Howard Wide Receiver of the Year award in 2022 and repeated as the winner in 2023.
His second season as the conference’s top receiver came with additional recognition.
In 2023, Harrison won the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year award. He also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football Award as the Big Ten’s top player.
His conference honors reflected the broader recognition he received nationally.
Harrison entered the 2023 season as an established star and finished it with multiple major individual awards.
Heisman Trophy Finalist in 2023
Harrison also reached the final stage of the Heisman Trophy competition.
He was one of four finalists for the 2023 award, joining quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix.
Harrison finished fourth in the final voting.
His presence among the finalists was significant because he entered a field dominated by quarterbacks.
He remained one of the most productive offensive players in the country throughout the season and finished his Ohio State career with one of the strongest statistical résumés ever produced by a Buckeyes receiver.
Marvin Harrison Jr. College Career Statistics
Harrison’s complete Ohio State statistical record shows his progression from a reserve receiver to a national star.
| Season | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards Per Catch | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 | 11 | 139 | 12.6 | 3 |
| 2022 | 13 | 77 | 1,263 | 16.4 | 14 |
| 2023 | 12 | 67 | 1,211 | 18.1 | 14 |
| Career | 38 | 155 | 2,613 | 16.9 | 31 |
The progression is particularly striking.
Harrison increased from 139 receiving yards as a freshman to more than 1,200 yards in each of his final two seasons.
His touchdown production followed the same pattern. He scored three touchdowns in 2021 before reaching 14 in both 2022 and 2023.
His career total of 31 receiving touchdowns ranks third in Ohio State history.
His 2,613 receiving yards rank sixth, while his 155 receptions also rank sixth in the program’s record book.
The Two 1,000-Yard Seasons
Harrison’s back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons remain one of the most important parts of his Ohio State résumé.
He became the first receiver in school history to accomplish the feat.
His 2022 season produced 1,263 yards.
He followed with 1,211 yards in 2023.
The combined total of 2,474 receiving yards across those two seasons accounted for nearly all of his career production.
His 2022 and 2023 receiving totals rank fourth and fifth, respectively, among Ohio State’s single-season receiving-yard totals.
That consistency also separated Harrison from players who produce one exceptional season before leaving college.
He delivered elite production in consecutive years.
Career Records at Ohio State
Harrison left Ohio State near the top of several major receiving categories.
His final career totals included:
- 155 receptions
- 2,613 receiving yards
- 31 receiving touchdowns
- 15 games with at least 100 receiving yards
- Two 1,000-yard receiving seasons
- Eight 100-yard receiving games in 2023
- 16.9 career yards per reception
His 15 career 100-yard games became an Ohio State record.
His 2023 total of eight 100-yard games tied the school’s single-season mark.
His 31 receiving touchdowns placed him third in Ohio State history at the conclusion of his college career.
Those accomplishments helped establish his place among the program’s most productive receivers.
His Final Game for Ohio State
Harrison’s final college season ended after Ohio State’s 2023 regular season.
The Buckeyes finished the regular season with an 11-1 record. Their only loss came against Michigan.
Harrison performed strongly in that rivalry game, catching five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The performance was another example of his ability to produce against high-level competition.
He finished his Ohio State career without playing in a postseason bowl game after the Buckeyes did not receive a bowl invitation beyond the regular season in 2023.
That brought the college portion of his career to a close after three seasons.
From Ohio State Star to the NFL Draft
Harrison declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after his junior season.
The Arizona Cardinals selected him fourth overall in the first round.
That selection made him the highest-drafted wide receiver in Ohio State history.
His draft position also marked the end of his college football career and the beginning of his professional career.
By then, Harrison had already completed a résumé featuring 155 receptions, 2,613 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
His college career had lasted only three seasons, but his final two years produced the majority of his statistical achievements and national recognition.
What Defines His Ohio State Legacy
Several numbers capture the significance of Harrison’s time in Columbus.
He recorded more than 1,200 receiving yards twice.
He scored 14 touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
He became a two-time unanimous All-American.
He won the Biletnikoff Award.
He became a Heisman Trophy finalist.
He established the Ohio State career record for 100-yard receiving games.
He also finished among the school’s top six in both receptions and receiving yards.
His career shows a clear progression. Harrison entered Ohio State as a highly regarded recruit but played a limited role as a freshman.
One season later, he became a 1,200-yard receiver and unanimous All-American.
As a junior, he repeated the 1,200-yard production, won the nation’s top receiver award and reached the Heisman finalist stage.
That three-year progression now stands as an important part of Ohio State’s modern receiving history.
The Lasting Impact of His College Career
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Ohio State career ended after the 2023 season, but his statistical record remains part of the program’s current history.
His 38-game career produced 155 receptions, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns.
More than the overall totals, his final two seasons established the standard.
Harrison became the first Ohio State receiver with two 1,000-yard seasons. He produced 28 touchdowns across those two campaigns and averaged more than 16 yards per reception in both years.
His combination of production and individual recognition also made his résumé distinctive.
Few Ohio State receivers have matched his combination of consecutive 1,200-yard seasons, two unanimous All-American selections, a Biletnikoff Award and a Heisman finalist appearance.
Harrison’s college career ultimately provided the foundation for his transition to professional football. When Arizona selected him fourth overall in 2024, he left Ohio State as one of the most decorated receivers in program history.
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