Ryan Day addresses usage plan for Marvin Harrison Jr. against Youngstown State

Marvin Harrison Jr. left Ohio State‘s season opener during the final minute of the first half against Indiana with an injury. Heading into Week 2, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said will be no limitations on his star wideout against Youngstown State.

Day’s game plan is to keep targeting Harrison until the defense can stop it. Hopefully, Harrison will end up in the end zone a time or two while also coming out of the matchup unscathed.

“We try to get him the ball and he’s certainly somebody that [the defense] always tries to figure out. It’s not always easy, the other team knows that but we’ll take a close look it and see how the game’s going,” Day said on Thursday. “He’s ready to roll in this game, so he’s healthy but we’re always cognizant of that and we try to do the best we can to do right by each player.

“Our No. 1 goal is to go out there and get a rhythm on offense. We want to convert on some situational stuff and play really well. Part of that and building that confidence is up is keeping the drive going and scoring points. [Harrison] is going to be a part of that, so that’s another goal on Saturday.”

Harrison finished the first half, and ultimately the game, with a pair of catches for 18 yards as Ohio State entered the locker room clinging to a 10-3 lead. He also had a touchdown called back for stepping out of bounds prior to catching the football. Eventually, his teammates would find their groove in the second half and escape Bloomington with a 23-3 victory. Despite this, Day still isn’t happy about what he feels was a no-call.

“He was forced out by the defender,” Day said. “They thought he ran out on his own. That didn’t happen. So that was missed, and they let us know that.”

After the game, Buckeyes QB1 Kyle McCord took the blame for giving Harrison more than one bad look on the afternoon, saying that it was on him for missing the mark on his top target.

Regardless of his Week 1 production, many have tabbed Harrison as the nation’s top wide receiver — some have gone as far as calling him college football’s best overall player — after his 2022 All-American season that saw him record 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.

With more expected out of him in Week 2, the Buckeyes will defend in-state foe Youngstown State at Noon on the Big Ten Network.