2024 NFL Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr. scouting report — is he generational?
The 2024 NFL Draft features several franchise-altering players. Marvin Harrison Jr., a star wideout from Ohio State, is the best of the bunch.
By Hunter Haas
Name: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Age: 21 (August 11, 2002)
School: Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 Pounds
Combine Numbers: N/A
Stats (Career & 2023):
2021 - 11 receptions, 139 yards, 3 TD
2022 - 77 receptions, 1,263 yards, 14 TD
2023 - 67 receptions, 1,211 yards, 15 TD
Background
Marvin Harrison Jr. grew up playing several sports as a child, but it didn’t take long to find his true calling. The son of a Hall of Fame wide receiver, it was in MHJ’s blood to follow his father’s footsteps. And somehow, Junior has filled those shoes — and then some.
Harrison Jr. was born in Philadelphia and spent most of his childhood there, eventually starring for St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and leading them to three straight state championships. He eclipsed countless school and countrywide records in the process.
Harrison Jr. earned a four-star rating out of high school, making him a hot commodity for all the major programs. Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida, and LSU were just a few of the schools pulling out the stops to secure a commitment from MHJ. But he stayed true to his heart and committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
After sitting behind three eventual first-round wide receivers as a freshman, Harrison Jr. received his chance to shine in Year 2. He posted career-high numbers in receptions and yardage, both of which still stand even after his most recent Heisman finalist campaign in 2023.
Now, Harrison Jr. embarks on the next leg of his journey — this time in an effort to match what his father did in the NFL. Scratch that; the younger Harrison has higher aspirations than that. He wants to be the best of all time. Period.
2024 NFL Draft Profile: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Strengths
•Hands - Harrison Jr. is as sure-handed as they come. He does well snatching the ball out of the air, not allowing it to travel into his chest. MHJ shows late hands on tape, making life difficult for any cornerback lined up across from him.
•Route Running - Harrison Jr. isn’t quite as shifty as his father, but the suddenness he displays coming out of routes is a carbon copy. The Buckeye star can cut on a dime and uses efficient footwork to shake free.
•Size - Unlike his father, Harrison Jr. flexes picturesque size at the wide receiver position. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, MHJ can withstand the stronger cornerbacks on Sundays and has no issues fighting for the ball in a scrum.
•Body Control - An underrated part of Harrison Jr.’s game is how well he contorts his body downfield. When airborne, the Ohio State alum has a sixth sense for getting at least one foot in bounds while simultaneously avoiding monster hits.
•Release Package - Harrison Jr. creates consistent separation from his defender by getting a quick release off the snap. His first step is lightning-quick, which gives him the upper hand when working on the boundary.
Weaknesses
•Top Speed - The weakness section is admittedly nit-picky with Harrison Jr., but nobody is perfect. MHJ is fast enough and rarely gets caught from behind, but on tape, his overall top gear can be a bit lacking. It hasn’t hampered him yet, so maybe it won’t, but it is worth noting.
•Not A Lethal Threat After Catch - Harrison Jr. gets open effortlessly and can churn out yardage after the catch when given cushion. However, MHJ isn’t always willing to barrel through defenders, which can limit his ability to put up YAC at the next level.
Overall Grade For Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver prospect I have evaluated in five years. He is always open, thanks to polished route running, suddenness out of his breaks, and reliable hands that rarely falter.
Harrison Jr. is crafty when working downfield, always knowing where he is relative to the sideline to ensure his feet get down in bounds. Quarterbacks can trust MHJ to come away with anything thrown his direction.
He lays claim to the No. 1 overall spot on NFLMocks’ current Big Board, ranking ahead of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and the like. Harrison Jr. is the real deal and will be a bonafide WR1 upon arrival. He could become the first wide receiver to go No. 1 overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
Grade: Top 1 — Blue-Chip
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