About two weeks after Marvin Harrison Jr. was selected fourth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft, BJ Ojulari received an unexpected message from Arizona's equipment manager, Jeff Schwimmer, detailing a potential conflict over jersey numbers. The dilemma arose because both Harrison Jr. and Ojulari had worn the number 18 during their respective collegiate careers—Harrison Jr. with the Ohio State Buckeyes and Ojulari with the LSU Tigers.
The Coveted Number 18
In his final season at LSU, Ojulari was awarded the number 18, a highly coveted honor bestowed upon the best all-around player for their character, academics, and leadership traits. "It meant everything to me. It was really important to me," Ojulari said, reflecting on the significance of the recognition. Wearing the number 18, Ojulari helped lead LSU to win the SEC Western Division title, cementing his legacy at the university.
The desire to keep wearing this number followed both players to the NFL. Interestingly, Ojulari and Harrison Jr.'s paths had crossed before. In high school, they faced off against each other in a memorable 2019 game, with Ojulari representing Marietta High School and Harrison Jr. suiting up for St. Joseph's Prep.
A Respectful Resolution
When it became clear that both players wished to wear number 18, they initiated a dialogue over text and phone to resolve the conflict. "We was just chopping it up. We got to talking about the number," said Ojulari. In what could have been a contentious situation, the two rookies handled it with maturity and a sense of team spirit.
Ultimately, Ojulari decided to give up the number 18 jersey for Harrison Jr. "It wasn’t a hard decision," Ojulari admitted, showing his willingness to prioritize team cohesion over personal preference. Importantly, no money exchanged hands in this process. Instead, the decision was rooted in mutual respect and understanding. "He’s a great guy. I feel like he deserves it. 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," Ojulari explained.
Looking Forward
Harrison Jr. expressed his gratitude for Ojulari's 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. commented, acknowledging the significance attached to the jersey number. As for Ojulari, he will don a new number, 9, as he embarks on his professional career with the Cardinals. Despite the change, he remains proud of his history with number 18. "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."
This story of collaboration and mutual respect between two promising rookies sets a positive tone for their futures with the Arizona Cardinals. It highlights the values of sportsmanship and team spirit that go beyond individual accolades, underscoring the essence of what it means to be part of a team in the NFL.