Marvin Harrison Jr. is coming in hot.
The junior wideout — whose dad, Marvin Sr., enjoyed a stellar career with the Indianapolis Colts — will be looking to expand on his All-American 2022 campaign, which saw him grab 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns at Ohio State.
Not yet eligible for the NFL Draft, Harrison accompanied his quarterback from last year, C.J. Stroud (more on him a bit later), to the 2023 NFL pro day. He was there to catch passes from Stroud, for Stroud to impress the 32 NFL teams. And while Stroud did fine – after all, he was the second pick in the draft, going to the Houston Texans – it was Harrison who stole the show.
“Like window shopping at a Lamborghini dealership for the model that doesn’t come out until next year,” an NFL scout told ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid after watching the 6-foot-4 Harrison work the field.
“Like window shopping at a Lamborghini dealership for the model that doesn’t come out until next year.”
Text from an NFL scout at Ohio State pro-day today after watching Marvin Harrison Jr. run routes
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 22, 2023
And the hype hasn’t stopped. In fact, it’s currently soaring. College football analyst Joel Klatt just called Harrison Jr. “the best wide receiver I’ve seen in college football since Randy Moss.”
“He’s like his dad in a baby Julio Jones body,” Klatt continued. “He runs great routes. He catches it better than anybody. He has outstanding body control. … The space he creates, his ability to win, to be physical – he’s the best player in college football. Marvin Harrison Jr. is my No. 1 prospect for next year because he’s the best player.“
Well then. Maybe it’s time to take a look at some Harrison Jr. odds at America’s sportsbooks, yeah?
Heisman and number one
There are two markets where Harrison Jr.’s name can currently be found: for the Heisman Trophy, and to go number one in next year’s NFL Draft.
For the Heisman, Harrison is surprisingly far down the odds board. He’s +3000 at FanDuel to take home the iron, with no less than 14(!) names ahead of him, led by the reigning Heisman winner, quarterback Caleb Williams of USC.
Granted, 19 of the last 23 Heisman winners were quarterbacks, and outside of DeVonta Smith in 2020, the last receiver to win the award was Desmond Howard in 1991. But if Harrison puts up a Randy Moss-type year, he’s not going to be 15th on the board by October.
And if he puts up a Randy Moss-type year, and if a few more things happen, Harrison’s +2000 odds at DraftKings to be the first player selected also may be a lot shorter.
Currently third behind Williams and University of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, Harrison would have to have a lot of things break his way to become the first wideout picked first since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. Specifically, the team with the first pick would have to not need a quarterback and think Harrison actually is the next Randy Moss to not trade the pick away.
All things considered, it would seem more likely he’s in store for a Heisman than the No. 1 pick, but who knows?
Meanwhile, Harrison’s old pro day quarterback Stroud heads to the Texans, where he’s expected to compete for the opening day start and is +700 at BetRivers to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
