Former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. knows he will enter the NFL with a lot of pressure because of what his father did in the league in the 1990s and 2000s. Harirson spoke to reporters on Wednesday and was asked about the best advice his father – Marvin Harrison – gave him before he gets drafted.
“Just be yourself,” the younger Harrison said, per Eleven Warriors. “When you meet the team, the coaches, the GM, just be yourself. Try to get a feel for who you are, so the best you can do for yourself.”
The older Harrison was himself when he was with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 -2008. The legendary wide receiver played with Peyton Manning for the majority of his career and became one of the best during his era. Harrison finished his career with eight Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl championship. He is also a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Harrison Jr. was arguably the best wide receiver in college football in 2023. He won the Biletnikoff Award after catching 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. In his three seasons at Ohio State, Harrison caught 155 receptions, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Marvin Harrison Jr. compared to All-Pro wide receiver
When it comes to the draft, Harrison has been projected to be selected by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 overall. ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen compared Harrison to one of the top wide receviers in the NFL DeAndre Hopkins.
“Harrison displays the savvy route-running traits, coverage awareness and high-end ball skills/body control that remind me of Hopkins’ style of play,” Bowen wrote earlier this month. “With the flexibility to isolate on the boundary or work out of the slot, the Ohio State receiver has three-level matchup ability and an All-Pro upside.”
Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud, who played with Harrison at Ohio State, recently said it would not be a smart decision for a team to pass on Harrison.
“I think I read something like he’s NFL ready, but other guys have more potential,” Stroud told reporters. “That makes no sense. Like, what? If you’re ‘NFL ready,’ how is that not potential? You want longevity. You want somebody who’s been doing it. For him, that’s what he sleeps, eats and he breathes. He’s a worldly talent, but also his work ethic and how he gravitates that room.”
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