Analyzing impact of Marvin Harrison Jr. committing to Ohio State

COLUMBUS — Marvin Harrison Jr. took a few months to deliberate. But in the end, all that time did for the four-star wide receiver was lead him right back to where he always anticipated committing: Ohio State.

Now the 6-foot-4, 185-pound junior at St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) has added his name as the latest member of the Class of 2021 recruiting class for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.

What does that mean for Ohio State? Who is Harrison and what can this standout wideout bring to the Buckeyes when he arrives on campus ahead of the 2021 season?

Lettermen Row has the angles covered on this Pennsylvania prospect and what his commitment means to Ohio State, the Big Ten and more.

Marvin Harrison Jr knew he wanted to be a Buckeye and didn’t waste time making a decision. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

What Marvin Harrison gives Ohio State on the field

Ohio State has made it a point in the last handful of recruiting cycles to pursue big-bodied, outside-receiver targets who can win one-on-one battles for the football. At his core, that is what Harrison does.

Although his verified 4.64 in the 40-yard-dash is hardly slow, Harrison isn’t exactly a burner on the perimeter. But he is a prospect in the mold of current Buckeyes senior Binjimen Victor and one of the handful of new options that will be available for Ohio State quarterbacks in the future as Ryan Day’s pro-style offense evolves.

A tactician, Harrison makes his name as a polished route-runner who capably uses his frame and football IQ to dominate defenses in both man-to-man situations or against zone defenses, regularly settling down in the soft spots and making big catches for team.

If there’s a critique of Harrison right now, it’s that he relies a bit too much on his body when catching the football rather than his hands, which would allow him to utilize his long-wingspan and frame even more than he currently does.

What pickup means for Ohio State 2021 recruiting class

With Marvin Harrison now officially in the fold, Ohio State has received a pair of commitments from two of its top receiver targets in the Class of 2021 after Massillon star Jayden Ballard committed in April.

That doesn’t mean Hartline and the Buckeyes are done in the 2021 cycle, though, and they’ll continue to aggressively recruit stars like Emeka Egbuka, Beaux Collins and Troy Stellato with the hope of landing another wildly impressive four-or-five man haul at receiver in 2021 — just as they have with the group for 2020. The Buckeyes roster should see a near complete overhaul of the position before this current group of high school juniors land on campus. And though the challenge becomes greater for Hartline to land each of the standouts that Ohio State truly covets, few coaches in the country have proven more up the task than the second-year Buckeyes assistant.

The sixth commitment to join Ohio State’s 2021 class, the addition of Harrison extends the Buckeyes lead as the Big Ten’s top class in that cycle, growing what looks like an insurmountable early lead over Wisconsin and the rest of the conference. Ohio State has the nation’s fourth-ranked class in 2021. Though it’s quite early, the Buckeyes recruiting class has the country’s highest per-player average, slighting edging out Notre Dame at this stage in the cycle.

What makes Marvin Harrison stand out

The name Marvin Harrison rings a bell for most football fans thanks to the Hall of Fame receiving career of Jr.’s father, who made his way to football immortality after a spectacular run with the Indianapolis Colts.

Though he’s built much differently than his father who barely scraped 6-foot-1, the similarities in style are clear to see on and off the field. Quiet and confident, Harrison is a player who could rest on his name and early rankings, but he has continued to grow as a leader in his locker room and keeps working to get better as a player. That combination of things will make him a valuable asset to Ohio State as a member of Brian Hartline’s Zone 6 — but will also make Harrison a worthwhile representative of the Buckeyes as a whole in the classroom, the community and the public eye.

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