'Real' Marvin Harrison Jr. living up to freshman hype for Buckeyes
The summer offseason is in full swing, and Lettermen Row is trying to survive it with our annual Position Week breakdowns. By the time all nine units at Ohio State have been covered, training camp and media days will nearly have arrived — and the return of football in the Horseshoe will be just around the corner. Let’s continue Wide Receivers Week at Lettermen Row by breaking down how Marvin Harrison Jr. can become a weapon as a freshman for the Buckeyes.
COLUMBUS — Marvin Harrison Jr. carries expectations at Ohio State just based off of his name.
The standard of excellence placed on Harrison early in his collegiate career come naturally. He certainly was always destined to have hype surrounding him at Ohio State given his bloodlines.
But after one of the most impressive springs for a freshman wide receiver seen in a long time for the Buckeyes, the hype train is fully loaded. Harrison turned heads at nearly every practice. He lost his black stripe less than a month into the spring session.
Now his name isn’t the only factor that has the Buckeyes excited to see what Harrison can do as a freshman this season.
“Marvin Harrison is real,†Ohio State star Chris Olave said near the end of spring camp. “I mean, he’s a route-runner, technician, he’s a deep threat, all of that. He’s a real good receiver, and I hope you guys will get to see that [in the spring game].
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“I’m really proud of those young guys and how they keep developing. They work so hard and keep their heads down, don’t really say much. But those are the guys you want, and they’re going to be really good in the future.â€
Harrison ended his spring on a high. He caught a touchdown pass from presumptive starting quarterback C.J. Stroud and looked impressive throughout the exhibition.
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison had one of the best springs for the Buckeyes. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
Ohio State had two wide receivers enter the transfer portal since last season ended. Mookie Cooper and Jameson Williams both moved on, creating some depth issues for the Buckeyes at receiver. Harrison, along with five-star classmate Emeka Egbuka and underrated prospect Jayden Ballard, will need to supply the depth — and become playmakers.
Harrison understands the opportunity. He spent time on the field working on route-running, timing and chemistry with the Buckeyes quarterbacks this summer, namely high school teammate Kyle McCord — and, of course, Stroud.
The former four-star receiver has already made his work ethic known inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
“I don’t see anyone coming in and spending more time on the JUGS, more time in the room, coming in extra, than [Harrison and Egbuka] at this point, and Jayden [Ballard], too,” wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said. “Obviously that’s all coming along, but these guys have worked at a very high level. They don’t carry themselves like freshmen.
“They don’t act like freshmen. But at this point, we’re trying to throw as much at them as possible because they’ve shown me they can handle it.”
As Harrison continues to grow more comfortable in the Ohio State offense, he’ll certainly get better. And as he earns more praise, the hype surrounding him will only grow.
Only now, the hype won’t just be about Marvin Harrison Jr.’s name.
