With expectations to reach the College Football Playoff every season, the Ohio State Buckeyes always look to maintain Big Ten supremacy with big-time recruiting classes. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is just one of many great NFL prospects who has committed to playing his college football career in Columbus.
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From St. Joseph's Prep School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harrison was one of the top pass catchers in the 2021 recruiting class. He also happens to be the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., who became famous while catching touchdown passes with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. That's right, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning's favorite target, is the father of Ohio State's latest wideout sensation.
Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Recruiting Story
https://twitter.com/MarvHarrisonJr/status/1189917604019933184
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A four-star recruit, Marvin Harrison Jr. also fielded offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee and Texas A&M, among others. The younger Harrison committed to the Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day in October 2019 and stepped foot on campus in January.
Harrison Jr. was ranked the No. 14 receiver and No. 97 overall player, according to the 247Sports Composite. He was the second receiver to commit to the Buckeyes in the class at the time and following Jayden Ballard.
OSU wide receivers coach Brian Hartline has recruited some notable talents in recent years, including Julian Fleming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Mookie Cooper, and Gee Scott. Go ahead and add Harrison Jr. to the list.
The Buckeyes also nabbed pro-style quarterback Kyle McCord that year, who happened to be Harrison's high school teammate.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Harrison Jr. is much bigger than a lot of the defensive players he is going up against on the outside in his highlights, and he is also visibly faster.
He already has the height of a top target, especially in the red zone, but will need to put on some muscle to play against physical corners in the NCAA and, eventually, if he enters the NFL Draft.
Harrison finished his prep career with 144 catches, 2,625 receiving yards and 37 TDs. He also helped St. Joseph's win three-straight Pennsylvania 6A state championships. Not a bad resume.
A Big Part of Ohio State's Next Wide Receiver Duo
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The 2021 Ohio State football team was highlighted by the two best receivers in the nation, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Although the team lost both players to the NFL in the 2022 NFL Draft, OSU quarterback (and Heisman frontrunner) C.J. Stroud was lucky to have Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Harrison Jr. ready to fill in as his aerial targets.
Harrison proved he was ready for the next level in the Ohio State spring game by scoring a touchdown and the young Buckeyes wideout was off and running. Even in the Rose Bowl, a game Ohio State begrudgingly played in after sliding down the rankings following their loss to Michigan, Harrison caught six receptions for 71 yards, as the Buckeyes took down Utah. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten will have their hands full this year and for years to come.
Being the son of an eight-time NFL All-Pro, Super Bowl champ and Pro Football Hall of Famer are tough shoes to fill, but wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. is ready to take over college football.
This article was originally published March 5, 2020.
