In a tight race to be crowned the nation’s top pass-catcher, Marvin Harrison Jr. took home the prestigious Biletnikoff Award on Friday. The Biletnikoff Award was given to the nation’s top playmaker as a receiver during the 2023 Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Wins 2023 Biletnikoff Award
A close race indeed, each of the three finalists proved to be vital to their team’s success and elevated their offenses in 2023.
While all three saw great success on the field this past season, each of the three finalists are seen as potential first-round 2024 NFL Draft picks all the same.
Marvin Harrison Jr. earned his spot as a finalist by dominating as the top target on arguably the best receiving corps in college football this past season. He hauled in 1,211 yards on 67 receptions with 14 touchdowns this past season.
Harrison Jr. was best known as the elevator of talent around him. Ushering in a new quarterback, it could be said that no player in college football meant more to his team’s success in 2023 than Harrison Jr.
Rome Odunze put his name on the national map a season ago and followed his 2022 campaign with an even better 2023 season. Odunze hauled in 1,428 receiving yards, 81 receptions, and 13 touchdowns.
For Malik Nabers, his finalist spot was arguably etched in first among his peers after he flashed brilliance this past season. Nabers led the nation in receiving yards and paired with Brian Thomas Jr. to haul in a whopping 29 combined touchdown receptions.
Nabers recorded 1,546 receiving yards on 86 catches, averaging a massive 18.0 yards per catch.
In the end, it was indeed Harrison Jr. who took home the award, though fans of the sport were ultimately the ones who won the biggest reward of getting to watch these three athletes perform their best at the highest level.
Odunze and his Washington Huskies will have at least one more game to impress us as they’ll be in the College Football Playoff later this month.