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Marvin Harrison Jr. lands near the top of The Athletic’s annual ‘freaks list’
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Marvin Harrison Jr. is entering the 2023 campaign as one of the top athletes in all of college football.
Harrison went for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last season in what was just his 2nd year of college football. His blend of production and athleticism means he’s projected to be a top pick in next spring’s NFL Draft.
It’s also what earned him the No. 2 spot on Bruce Feldman’s annual “freaks list,” which was published on Tuesday. Only South Carolina freshman Nyckoles Harbor is above Harrison in the top spot.
Here’s an excerpt of Feldman’s analysis:
There isn’t a better player in college football right now, regardless of position. Last year, he caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. In five games against top-15 opponents (vs. No. 11 Utah in the Rose Bowl, No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 13 Penn State, No. 3 Michigan and No. 1 Georgia), he had 33 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-4, 208, the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver is remarkably gifted. He has everything. He’s very strong — he bench presses 380 pounds and did 20 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 500. He’s very explosive, having broad-jumped 10 feet 8, and he’s really sudden, having clocked a 3.94 in the shuttle and improved on his max velocity from last year, up to 23.5 MPH.
Harrison headlines an Ohio State wide receiver corps that is one of the top units in all of college football. The Buckeyes also have receivers Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and several blue-chip freshmen who could get into the mix.
Other Buckeyes who made Feldman’s freak list include safety Sonny Styles and running back Chip Trayanum.
Ohio State opens the 2023 season against Indiana on Sept. 2.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.