Scout's view: Marvin Harrison Jr. is no Randy Moss, but he could be this star

I don't get the comparison to Jefferson, who has 4.43-second speed in the 40-yard dash. Harrison doesn't show that kind of speed on film. Heck, against Michigan last season, Harrison nudged a cornerback to manufacture a step of separation on this touchdown pass. 

On his 31-yard score against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, Harrison worked back toward his QB with the corner tight in coverage. 

Harrison's official 40 time probably won't be known until next year's NFL Scouting Combine. On game film, his time looks more like the 4.60 he posted in high school. So the comp to Moss, who recorded a hand-timed 4.25 in the 40 in 1998, is absurd. 

Harrison's highlight reel also shows he doesn't go deep like Moss did. 

Another big issue to ponder

Will Harrison put up numbers comparable to his 2022 totals (77 catches, 1,263 receiving yards) with a new quarterback? Last season's QB, C.J. Stroud, went No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft to Houston. In college, he was the third-most accurate first-round passer (69.3% completion percentage in college) of the last three drafts. 

Kyle McCord —  Harrison's high school QB — may have the inside track to start for the Buckeyes, but he only has 58 college passing attempts. He and Harrison formed a bond on their high school team that won three consecutive state titles, but he's no Stroud — at least not yet. 

Harrison's feet barely had to leave the turf thanks to Stroud's pinpoint accuracy. With his big frame (6-foot-4 and 205 pounds) and natural reach, he confidently plucked balls from the air with his strong hands. 

Because of McCord's inexperience, Harrison may have to show off other skills, including catch radius, speed and ability to get yards after the catch. I wonder if he'll be as scintillating as he was last season.

Even with Stroud, Harrison tended to look average after the catch in the open field. He didn't blow the doors off of college secondaries and NFL defenses, of course, are much faster than anything Harrison will play against in college.

Bottom line

I have a preseason first-round grade on Harrison. He'll use his size, initial quickness, spring in this step at route breakpoints, short-range acceleration, physicality, excellent ball tracking and phenomenal ability to adjust to light up pro secondaries at the intermediate route level. To put it in baseball terms, he'll hit a lot of doubles, a few triples and an occasional home run. 

He could have a career similar to Johnson, who finished with 10,571 yards receiving and 64 touchdown catches. That's not too shabby, but Harrison is no Moss.