The 2023 college football awards were announced on Friday night, and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. won the 2023 Biletnikoff Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding receiver at any position in college football.
Harrison Jr. was the runner up for the Biletnikoff in 2022, as former Tennessee football wide receiver Jalin Hyatt won the prestigious award after a 67-catch, 1,267-yard, 15-touchdown season. Hyatt winning the award came with backlash from Buckeye fans who thought Harrison Jr. was more deserving.
Fast forward a year later, Harrison Jr. has won the award, edging out LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. Harrison Jr.’s win has come under a bit of scrutiny from the college football world given the fact that Nabers had the far superior season statistically.
Nabers recorded 86 receptions for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to Harrison Jr.’s 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Amidst the debate between Harrison Jr. and Nabers following the award show, an Ohio State beat writer, Jeremy Birmingham, tweeted that Nabers should be upset with Hyatt, not Harrison Jr., for losing the award.
Malik Nabers beef is with Jalin Hyatt, not Marv.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) December 9, 2023
Birmingham’s tweet implies that Nabers would’ve had a better chance at winning this year if Harrison Jr. would’ve won last year. Harrison Jr. replied to the tweet with ‘Tell ’em 😂 ‘, indicating that Harrison Jr. feels he was snubbed of the award last season when Hyatt won.
Tell ‘em 😂
— Marvin Harrison Jr. (@MarvHarrisonJr) December 9, 2023
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There’s no denying Harrison Jr. is a better talent than Nabers and Hyatt. It’s why he will be selected as a top five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he simply hasn’t had a season that was distinctly better than any other receiver in college football.
In 2022, Hyatt had four more yards, 10 less catches and one more touchdown than Harrison Jr. While Hyatt’s stats weren’t clearly better than Harrison Jr.’s, Hyatt’s 207-yard, five-touchdown performance in Tennessee’s 52-49 win over Alabama in Neyland Stadium was too much to ignore.
After his Biletnikoff Award-winning 2022 junior season, Hyatt was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
In 12 games so far, Hyatt has recorded 17 receptions for 330 yards, which is third-highest on the team.
6 Responses
If Marvin Harrison Jr had a great quarterback throwing the ball to him. Those numbers of Harrison Jr would be double. McCord is a good quarterback. Not a top 5 college quarterback to speak on. I appreciate all that McCord has done for the Buckeyes. I wish him luck for his future.
To many missed opportunities passing with McCord to Harrison Jr unfortunately. This goes for other Buckeyes receivers. McCord had big shoes to feel at Ohio State as Quarterback. That mark wasn’t met.
I don’t get this. Last year Hyatt had ten less catches but more yards and more td than Harrison Jr. What does this year winner have to do with last year, Harrison had less yards and td than Malik.
first of all did harrison have 5 TD against a great Alabama team didn’t think so. Yeah marvin harrison jr is the better player but he doesn’t have as many accolades as Hyatt
First of all Marvin Harrison had a way better quarterback in CJ Stroud and still had less yards and touchdowns get absolutely fucked marvin
Malik Nabors was the best receiver in college football this year period full stop. Harrison won it because of his last name only. It has to be. Nabers had more catches more yards and the same tds. And not just a few more catches and yards. Mike 20 catches and 300 yards. Nabers never has a game with less than 65 yards. Harrison had 4 games with less than 35 years. I rest my case.
And there it is…let’s play the “he only won because of his last name” card! No, he won the award because he’s the most dynamic WR in all of college football (and THAT’S because of his last name)! If we’re going to base who’s deserving of an award strictly based on stats alone and not talent, then the whole process is nothing more than a big fat waste of time! #GO BUCKS!