Editor’s Notes; This article was previously published on lastwordonsports.com/nfl on February 14, 2024.
Marvin Harrison, Jr. Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: Six-foot-four
Weight: 205 pounds
School: Ohio State
Marvin Harrison, Jr 2024 NFL Draft Profile
When it comes to Ohio State and NFL receivers, it’s impressive to be able to stand out. Enter quite possibly the best – or, at the very least, most talented – Buckeye receiver in history, Marvin Harrison, Jr.
If that name rings a bell, it should. Harrison, Jr. is, of course, the son of Hall of Fame Indianapolis Colts receiver, Marvin Harrison. As the son of an elite receiver and as a receiver who was developed by Brian Hartline, Harrison, Jr. has been set up for success nearly unparalleled by any player in the draft.
Harrison, Jr. came to Ohio State by way of St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia and was the 21st-ranked receiver in the 2021 recruiting class.
As a true freshman Harrison, Jr. got onto the field a bit as a depth piece and fully broke out with a three-touchdown effort against Utah in the Rose Bowl alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s record-setting day. In 2022, Ohio State had to lean on Harrison, Jr. as WR1 as Smith-Njigba missed the majority of the year with injuries. All he did was turn in a 1,263-yard, 14-touchdown effort. He was an elite weapon for the Buckeyes and his injury in the Peach Bowl against Georgia was widely considered to be the turning point in the loss.
As a junior in 2023, the quarterback play took a nosedive but Harrison, Jr. continued to be productive. He nearly replicated his 2022 productivity in one fewer game and 10 fewer catches with a drop-off at quarterback, finishing with 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He finished as a two-time First-Team All-American, two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, the 2023 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner, and a fourth-place Heisman Trophy finish.
Strengths
- Incredibly polished route-runner
- Elite ball skills
- Succeeded despite poor QB play, press, and double coverage
- Too fast for a player his size
- Unmatched body control (SEE catch vs Indiana in 2022)
- Great get-off at the line
- Can play anywhere
- A home-run threat on any play
- 4.3 threat
Weaknesses
- Could add a little size
- Wasn’t the best at breaking the first tackle
- Needs work on cuts and double moves
NFL Comparision: Prime A.J. Green
Projection: First non-quarterback taken
Best Fit: Literally all 32 teams
Bottom Line on Marvin Harrison, Jr.
What can be said about Harrison, Jr.? Across all of the NFL draft boards among experts, Harrison, Jr. is either first or second overall. The consensus top player, Harrison, Jr. is good enough to make an NFL team weigh taking him instead of taking a potential franchise quarterback.
As a Hartline product, Harrison, Jr. is a very polished route runner and is able to create separation from the jump with an elite get-off. Due to the fact that defenses did not respect the Ohio State rushing attack, they focused on taking Harrison, Jr. away. He still averaged over 100 yards and a score per game. With Kyle McCord throwing him the ball.
Harrison, Jr. can do anything and everything asked of him. He can play in the slot, he can play a Tee Higgins-type of role opposite a bonafide WR1, and he can be that WR1.
At 6-4, Harrison, Jr. can scoot and is an incredibly smooth runner. He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, so don’t be surprised if he runs a sub-4.4 40-yard.
The lone real knock against him is his size. Harrison, Jr. is a tad smaller on his frame and could benefit from adding some muscle. That would help him break that first tackle. However, if utilized as a field stretcher, Harrison, Jr. has elite ball skills and can and will win those 50/50 balls. His body control is unmatched and will be well worth the draft capital.
