Garrett Wilson wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, marking the start of a potential Ohio State trend

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Garrett Wilson was once part of the early stages of Ohio State’s offensive renaissance now he continues that ideal in the NFL after being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Buckeyes spent much of the last decade watching it be the norm for their defensive players to earn the honor, having four players do so since 2016. But the offensive side had lagged behind as Eddie George had been the only player to do so in 1996. Wilson changes that following his first year with the New York Jets, just as was the case when he was a five-star recruit, it might not be the last time the program produces such a player in the near future.

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Wilson beat out San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III for the honor by leading all rookies in catches (83) and yards (1,103) while adding four touchdowns. He and fellow OSU teammate Chris Olave — 72 catches for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns — were the only rookie wide receivers to surpass 1,000 yards.

He was joined by fellow rookie Sauce Gardner who won Defensive Rookie of the Year as the Jets swept the rookie awards this season.

Wilson once came to Columbus as a five-star recruit with strong Ohio ties as a member of the 2019 recruiting class and immediately made an impact. He ended his three-year career ranked tied for eighth in catches (143), 10th in yards (2,213) and seventh in touchdowns (23). In 2021 he had 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns as he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba —95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns — became the sixth and seventh players in program history to have 1,000-yard seasons. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka pushed that number up to nine this past season.

He then went on to be the 10th pick by the Jets as the second wide receiver selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, with Olave and Jameson Williams — who transferred to Alabama for the 2021 season — following him at 11 and 12. Doing so meant that the Buckeyes 2020 starting wide receiver corps were all first-round picks.

Wilson’s commitment was once the genesis of Ohio State’s campaign to be known as ‘Wide Receiver U,’ and now he continues that trend in the NFL with a breakout rookie year. Given what’s coming up behind him it’s fair to assume that he won’t be the last.