Marvin Harrison becomes Ohio State's 37th unanimous All-American with AFCA nod

On3 imageby:Andy Backstrom12/14/22

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COLUMBUS — Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. were both named first-team All-Americans by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Wednesday, making Harrison a unanimous All-American and Johnson a consensus All-American.

The AFCA is comprised of only FBS coaches, which separates it from the other major All-American award selection processes. It’s been picking All-American teams since 1945.

Harrison is the 37th unanimous All-American in Buckeyes history, and he’s the fourth Ohio State player in as many years to earn that honor, joining right guard Wyatt Davis (2020) as well as defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah (2019).

With star slot wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba sidelined most of this year with a hamstring injury, Harrison stepped into the WR1 role. He ran with it, piling up 12 touchdown catches and 18 contested catches, per Pro Football Focus, while posting just one drop in 108 targets. The electrifying Harrison was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

Johnson, on the other hand, is the first Ohio State offensive tackle to be crowned a consensus All-American since Orlando Pace got the unanimous tag in not only 1995 but also 1996.

Johnson moved from right guard to left tackle this offseason, but you would have never known that he hadn’t already been starting there. Johnson has allowed just 10 pressures this year — four fewer than he conceded as an interior offensive lineman in 2021 — although he did give up his second career sack in the regular season finale against Michigan. Still, he’s done an exceptional job protecting Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud’s blind side.

Speaking of Stroud, the Heisman Trophy finalist was recognized by the AFCA as a second-team All-American. Stroud became the first Big Ten player to string together back-to-back seasons with 30-plus touchdown passes. He’s tied for the nation lead with 37 scores through the air, and his 176.25 passer rating is tops in the FBS.

Stroud is actually Ohio State’s first two-time Heisman finalist. When program legend Archie Griffin won the award twice in 1974-75 — the running back is the only college football player to ever achieve that feat — the Heisman Trust was not naming finalists. It didn’t start that process until 1982.

Other All-American lists…

READ: Trio of Buckeyes earn All-American status from The Sporting News

READ: Four Buckeyes land on Walter Camp All-American teams

READ: Three Buckeyes players named FWAA All-Americans

READ: Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. highlights Buckeyes presence on AP All-America team

READ: Seven Ohio State players tabbed PFF All-Americans

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