Marvin Harrison Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022
No. 18 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(2002-08-11) August 11, 2002 (age 23) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Joseph's Preparatory (Philadelphia)
College:	Ohio State (2021–2023)
NFL Draft:	2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Career history
Arizona Cardinals (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Fred Biletnikoff Award (2023) 2× Unanimous All-American (2022, 2023) Big Ten Most Valuable Player (2023) Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2023) 2× Big Ten Receiver of the Year (2022, 2023) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (2022, 2023)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions: 62 Receiving yards: 885 Receiving touchdowns: 8
Player stats at PFR

Marvin Darnell Harrison Jr. (born August 11, 2002) is a professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. While there, he was named a unanimous All-American twice. He also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2023. The Cardinals chose Harrison as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He is the son of Marvin Harrison, a famous wide receiver in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Football

Marvin Harrison Jr. was born on August 11, 2002, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Marvin Harrison, was a star wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He played in the NFL from 1996 to 2008.

Choosing Football

Marvin Jr. grew up playing both football and basketball. When he started high school, he decided to focus only on football. He first went to La Salle College High School. Later, he moved to St. Joseph's Preparatory School.

High School Achievements

At St. Joseph's, Harrison helped his team win three state championships in a row. He set new records for the Philadelphia Catholic League. He had 2,625 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns in his high school career. He also played with Kyle McCord, who later became his teammate at Ohio State.

College Choice

After high school, Harrison was a highly-rated player. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to play college football at Ohio State University. He liked the school's atmosphere and facilities. He also wanted to play with his friend Kyle McCord again.

College Football Career

2021 Season: A Strong Start

Harrison joined Ohio State in January 2021. In his first year, he did not play much at first. This was because other great players were ahead of him. He had only five catches for 68 yards during the regular season. However, he got his first chance to start in the 2022 Rose Bowl. In that game, he caught six passes for 71 yards. He also scored three touchdowns, helping his team win 48–45.

2022 Season: Becoming a Star Receiver

Harrison warming up before a game in 2022

After his great Rose Bowl game, people expected a lot from Harrison in his second year. He became the team's top receiver early in the season. In one game, he caught seven passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. This was a career high for him at the time. He had many more strong games, often gaining over 100 yards.

Big Games and Awards

Harrison set new career highs with 10 catches and 185 yards in a win against Penn State. He also played well in the College Football Playoff against Georgia. He caught five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. However, he had to leave the game with a concussion. Ohio State lost that game. At the end of the season, Harrison was named a unanimous All-American. He also won the Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year award. He finished the season with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.

2023 Season: Top College Receiver

Harrison scores against Michigan in 2023

In 2023, many people thought Harrison was the best receiver in college football. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He also won the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award. This award goes to the best wide receiver in college football. He had 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns that season. After the season, Harrison decided to enter the NFL draft.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

Joining the Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals picked Marvin Harrison Jr. as the fourth player overall in the 2024 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team on May 23, 2024. This contract was worth $35.3 million.

2024 Rookie Season Highlights

In his first NFL game, Harrison had one catch for four yards. But in his second game, he had a huge performance. He caught four passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first quarter. The Cardinals won that game 41–10. In week 6, he left a game with a concussion. In week 8, he had six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. He finished his first season with 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.

NFL Career Statistics

Cardinals Team Records

Marvin Harrison Jr. tied a team record for the Arizona Cardinals. He scored 8 receiving touchdowns as a rookie. This is the same number as Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in their rookie seasons.

Personal Life

Marvin Harrison Jr. is a Christian. He also works with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. This charity helps families with sick children. A sportscaster named Gus Johnson gave him the nickname "Maserati Marv" when he was in college.