About two weeks after being selected fourth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. found himself in an unexpected situation concerning his jersey number. The Ohio State Buckeyes standout, known for wearing the number 18 during his collegiate career, faced a potential conflict. BJ Ojulari, another recent Cardinals draftee who wore the same number at LSU, received a message from Arizona's equipment manager, Jeff Schwimmer, detailing the dilemma.
Throughout their collegiate careers, both Harrison Jr. and Ojulari had a strong association with the number 18. Harrison Jr. wore the number at Ohio State, while Ojulari donned it at LSU, where it symbolizes character, academics, and leadership. For Ojulari, the number had special significance. "It meant everything to me. It was really important to me," he said. During his final season at LSU, Ojulari was honored with the number 18 jersey and played a pivotal role in LSU winning the SEC Western Division title.
The two players initiated a conversation to resolve the number conflict amicably. They communicated over text and phone, sharing mutual respect and understanding. "We was just chopping it up. We got to talking about the number," Ojulari recalled.
Ultimately, Ojulari decided to relinquish the number 18 jersey to Harrison Jr. without any exchange of money. "It wasn’t a hard decision," he remarked. This selfless act highlighted Ojulari's leadership and team-first mentality. "He’s a great guy. I feel like he deserves it," Ojulari continued. "He’s gonna be instrumental for us in the offensive strike. So, it was a no-brainer. The team comes first and whatever I can do to make us more successful, I’ll do."
Harrison Jr. expressed his gratitude for Ojulari’s generous gesture. "We had a great conversation. I can’t be more grateful and appreciative for him to allow me to get that number 18. I know it means a lot to him," Harrison Jr. said, acknowledging the emotional weight carried by the number.
Ojulari’s decision to give up the number 18 showcased his commitment to the Cardinals and their success. He will now take the field wearing the number 9 jersey. Reflecting on his brief but meaningful tenure with the number 18 at LSU, Ojulari noted, "It was such a blessing to have number 18, wearing number 18 my first year. I’m always gonna cherish that rookie jersey, just that number 18. So, it meant everything to me."
The mutual respect and seamless resolution between Ojulari and Harrison Jr. serve as a testament to their character and dedication to their new team. As the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming season, they can take confidence in the caliber of players they have drafted—not just in terms of athletic ability, but also in their leadership and camaraderie.