Garrett Wilson has recorded 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. But before he became the New York Jets’ WR1, he tortured collegiate defensive backs for three years.
Where Did Garrett Wilson Go to College?
Born in Chicago but raised in Columbus, Ohio, Wilson’s decision to play college football at Ohio State proved to be a homecoming of sorts.
However, he rose to high school prominence at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, which has developed a reputation as one of the premier football programs in the state.
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By his sophomore year, Wilson became a prominent weapon on the varsity squad, finishing with 53 catches, 699 yards, and 12 touchdowns. But it was his junior year that put him on the national map.
Catching passes from future Baylor star Charlie Brewer, Wilson generated a staggering 98-1,774-26 receiving line, adding six other scores on the ground.
His senior numbers were less gaudy because he missed multiple games in the middle of the season due to injury, but Wilson still amassed 1,151 receiving yards and 19 TDs, earning an invitation to “The Opening,” an annual showcase of the best high school players across the country held in Frisco, Texas.
But Wilson wasn’t a one-sport athlete in high school. His father, Kenny, was a basketball star at Davidson, where his 1,573 career points are still seventh on the school’s all-time list. He even matched up against Michael Jordan a couple of times in the NBA Summer League before a short run with the Denver Nuggets.
Due to his father’s passion for basketball, Wilson’s athletic journey began there as he played on AAU teams in Ohio. He continued to hit in the hardwood at Lake Travis, averaging 21 points per game, earning first-team All-Central Texas honors, and receiving several Division I scholarship offers to play basketball collegiately.
Nevertheless, Wilson’s devotion lay in football, where he was a consensus five-star prospect and a top-15 ranked recruit.
Wilson continued his reign of dominance at Ohio State, catching 30 passes for 432 yards and five TDs as a true freshman. Entering his sophomore year, he moved from the outside to the slot and hit the ground running, posting four consecutive 100-yard games, marking the second-longest streak in school history.
Wilson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors with 43 receptions for 723 yards and six scores, leading the team with 16.8 yards per catch.
Much like in high school, Wilson’s junior year was by far his best. In 2021, he cemented his legacy among Ohio State’s pantheon of greats with 70 receptions, 1,054 yards, and 12 TDs. He and teammate Chris Olave became the first pair of Ohio State WRs to earn first-team All-American honors in the same season.
By the end of his collegiate career, Wilson’s name was littered through the Buckeyes’ record books:
- 143 receptions (T-8th)
- 2,213 receiving yards (10th)
- 23 TD catches (seventh)
- 10 100-yard receiving games (third)
Wilson’s dominance at Ohio State set the stage for his NFL success, where he quickly became one of the league’s brightest young stars.
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