Meet Harold Fannin Jr., the Elite TE Prospect Hiding in Plain Sight
Bowling Green hasn't produced a first-round pick in the NFL Draft since 1961, when do-it-all offensive weapon Bernie Casey was a top-10 selection by the San Francisco 49ers.
A Pro Bowler in 1969 who eventually became an accomplished actor, Casey lined up all over the field for the Falcons, challenging opposing defenses with his impressive combination of size and athleticism.
BGSU has a chance to put another top prospect into the first round in 2025, and it's fitting that this time around, it's yet another versatile playmaker who brings a unique skill set to the table.
Harold Fannin Jr. is arguably the best tight end in all of college football, putting up eye-popping numbers for the Falcons this season. Through 11 games, Fannin has racked up 92 receptions for 1,295 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging nearly 15 yards per catch. He leads the nation in receiving yards (not just among tight ends), and ranks third in receptions.
He's topped 125 yards receiving seven times this season, and he isn't just beating up on lower-level competition. In back-to-back weeks that featured narrow losses to ranked Power 4 programs, Fannin caught 11 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown against Penn State, then hauled in eight catches for 145 yards and another score against Texas A&M.
Coming out of high school, Fannin was a zero-star recruit with no scholarship offers from any major college football programs, but BGSU took a chance on his potential that's clearly paying off for both parties.
"It took time, dedication," Fannin said in an exclusive interview with Athlon Sports, speaking of his long, winding football journey. "God really got me through it."
After a strong showing during the 2023 season, many would have expected a rising talent like Fannin to jump into the transfer portal and look for an opportunity to play at a powerhouse program in a bigger conference.
But Fannin remained loyal to the place that gave him a chance coming out of high school when nobody else did.
"The players and the coaches," Fannin says of the reasons why he wasn't interested in playing for another school. "I just feel like we have a really good bond together, and I just wanted to win with these guys."
And win they have, putting together a 7-4 record so far this season, including those two close losses to Penn State and Texas A&M. With one more victory this season, the Falcons will have their highest win total in nearly a decade, and earn a spot in the MAC title game.
Fannin is thrilled to be enjoying team success just as much as his own personal production, and stresses that you don't have to go chasing a spot at a blue-blood program in order to gain the attention of NFL decision-makers.
"It's always going to feel great, especially because of the guys you work hard with." Fannin says. "If you're good, I wouldn't be focused on being "Power 5." If you're good enough, the scouts are gonna come see you."
Growing up in Canton, Ohio, Fannin was influenced by another versatile athlete from about a half-hour up the road in nearby Akron: NBA megastar LeBron James.
"He's the GOAT, man. He's been doing it for a long time," Fannin says of James, who had a big influence on him growing up.
In Fannin's youth, James gifted free bikes to many of the kids in the local communities, and Fannin was a recipient that never forgot the kindness of one of the most successful professional athletes in sports history.
Fannin's unique athletic journey started in high school, where he was a two-sport star playing football and baseball. On the gridiron, Fannin played a wide range of positions on both sides of the ball, putting up big numbers on offense and defense, while also proving to be a big-play machine in the return game.
All of those experiences gave Fannin valuable tools he still uses to make him one of he best tight ends in the country.
"From a tight end standpoint, just because I played on the other side, I know more about what defenses are trying to do, about leverage. So, it helps me whenever I'm running my routes and trying to get open."
How did playing baseball help Fannin become a better tight end?
"Catching. You've gotta look at this tiny ball, and be able to focus."
Fannin is excited about his football future beyond the college ranks, and loves the success he's currently enjoying with the players and coaches with whom he's forged an unbreakable bond throughout his career. But he also plays for more than that, including two special people who are always close to his heart and mind on game day.
Before every game, Fannin writes a special message on the tape covering each of his wrists.
Fannin's grandfather, Benjamin Smith, passed away when Fannin was in the eighth grade. Last October, Fannin lost his sister, Haria Wise, to leukemia at the age of 20.
"Usually, I write '7.20,' which is the day my grandfather passed away, and on my other tape I write, 'In Loving Memory' with my sister's name," Fannin says. "That's who I'm doing it for. That's who I'm going out and just having fun for."
Fannin continues to make proud all of those people who have helped him along his journey, both on and off the field, to becoming the kind of player and person every NFL team should want in their locker room.
Should he choose to make the jump to the next level after this incredible season, Fannin wants those decision-makers around the league to know just what they're getting when they draft him.
"They're getting a hard-working player," Fannin says. "I'm very versatile, so I can play more than one position. You can put me anywhere. I'm all about the team, and whatever it takes to win."
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