Instant Reaction: What experts are saying about Arizona Cardinals drafting Marvin Harrison Jr.

COLUMBUS — Biletnikoff Award winner. Heisman Trophy finalist. Arizona Cardinal.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s latest title comes after the Cardinals picked the superstar wide receiver with the No. 4 overall pick Thursday night in the NFL Draft.

In 2023, Harrison became just the fifth Buckeyes player to post two unanimous All-American seasons. He’s coming off a prolific junior campaign, during which the rangey receiver recorded 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, not to mention his first career rushing touchdown.

As mentioned above, Harrison took home the Biletnikoff, given annually to the top receiver in college football. He beat LSU’s Malik Nabers by one vote, and he bested Washington’s Rome Odunze for that honor as well. Harrison joined the late Terry Glenn as the second Ohio State player to win the award.

Glenn, the No. 7 overall pick in the 1996 draft, was previously Ohio State’s highest-selected wideout.

Not anymore. That’s Harrison.

During his final year with the Buckeyes, Harrison became the first Ohio State player to stack 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He also surpassed David Boston for the most career 100-yard receiving games (15) in program history. Not only did he become a Heisman finalist, but he also was crowned the Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts this past season.

Here’s what the experts had to say about Harrison, in addition to Harrison’s initial draft reaction.

What Mel Kiper Jr. said about former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. going to Arizona…

Kiper on Harrison going to Arizona, via ESPN: “A lot bigger than Marvin Harrison Sr. — Marvin Harrison Sr. is 5-foot-11.5, 181. Marvin Harrison Jr., 6-foot-3.25, 210. Marvin Harrison ran 4.33, Marvin Harrison Jr. not that fast. Marvin Harrison Sr. 19th pick overall in 1996. Here, Marvin Harrison Jr. the fourth pick overall. You see the body control, the ability to adjust, to be a power forward in the red zone. He had 29 receptions against press coverage the last two years, most in FBS, and 15 contested catches on third down, most in FBS. And he did it this year — he was exactly numbers-wise and production-wise what he was two years ago. He did it with C.J. Stroud, he did it with Kyle McCord, who by the way is at Syracuse, guys.”

Kiper continued: “You talk about a receiver who gets it. He’s going to work as hard as anybody. His dad did. I was with his dad at the Hula Bowl way back when he came out. … He was there game face, business-like approach, worked with Peyton Manning before, during and after [practice] to get that timing down. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be the exact same way with Kyler Murray.”

What Booger McFarland said about former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. going to Arizona…

McFarland on Harrison going to Arizona, via ESPN: “I played with his dad. What can you learn from father to son? Well, I saw the traits of senior every day at practice, the hard work. And so can you pass those traits down to your son, how to play the position, how to be a receiver. It’s really simple, one of the toughest catches is you go over the shoulder and make the catch, have the eye and the hand coordination to track the football. Marvin Sr. used to come out to practice and make this catch every single day at practice. He’d practice getting the feet in, making sure he had the body control …

“… Like father, like son. It doesn’t matter the quarterback play, put the ball up, I’ll go get it. I’ll be able to track the football over the shoulder, have really good body control, give myself enough room to the outside where the quarterback can complete the football so I can get both feet in bounds. …”

“… The traits that we saw from senior, that I saw every day at practice, he passed down to junior. They’re getting a really good receiver.”

What Louis Riddick said about former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. going to Arizona…

Riddick on Harrison going to Arizona, via ESPN: “Just think about the body type you’re getting. He’s pushing 6-foot-4, 212-plus, 215-plus. He’s not a guy who’s just resigned to the outside. He can play any position. Unbelievable weapon.”

What Daniel Jeremiah said about former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. going to Arizona…

Jeremiah on Harrison going to Arizona, via NFL Network: “I’m all for trading down and getting depth. But I’m more into getting dudes. You have your depth, I’ll take my dudes. This is a big-time, big-time playmaker. They need blue-chip difference makers on this roster for the Arizona Cardinals. There aren’t many. And Kyler Murray is grinning from ear to ear. He has a No. 1 wide receiver, and not two years from now, three years from now — this is a No. 1 wide receiver this year. He’s going to be ready to roll right when he gets on the field.”

Jeremiah continued: “He is a very easy, fluid mover, and the catch radius is ridiculous. This is a power forward body with point guard athleticism. You want to press him, he’ll just swat you away like a bug, climb on top with his speed and make plays. … The ability to snap off routes like a little receiver in a big frame is a ridiculous. … This dude is a bonafide freak.”

What Marvin Harrison Jr. said right after getting picked by Arizona…

Harrison on what this means to him to be the first receiver taken, via ESPN: “I’m just super blessed to be here, really. There’s a lot of great receivers in this draft class. It’s an honor to be first. But I got to go and put that work in now.”

Harrison when asked about the importance of creating his own legacy, via ESPN: “Just trying to be my best self. Just be the best person and the best player I can be. And whatever happens happens from there.”

What Ryan Day said about Marvin Harrison Jr. hours before the draft…

Day on Harrison, via College GameDay (ESPN): “I think the thing I say a lot about Marvin is that he has talent. You can see it. His dad was a Pro Football Hall of Famer. You see the size, you see all that. But sometimes you have talented guys, [and] they lack discipline and lack skill. Not Marvin. He has unbelievable discipline. … His effort, his work, his focus, all those types of things — but then the skill, the skill to run underneath routes, make plays down the field and, because of that, whoever gets him tonight is gonna get a franchise player.”

Day on the Ohio State wide receiver pipeline, via College GameDay (ESPN): “It’s a proud room. And there’s been a lot of great receivers that have come before. And the guys the last couple years have really done a great job, not only having an opportunity to play in the NFL but once they’ve gotten there, they’ve done great since they’ve been there. But I think the thing’s that unique about Marvin here is he walked into that room with all those guys in there, and the same guys that are right now back in Columbus. They want to work to get each other better. I think that environment that’s being created over these years, Brian Hartline’s been a huge part of that, is one of the big reasons why these guys have gone on to do so well once they’re in the NFL. It’s one thing to get drafted, it’s another thing to have success once you’re there.”