“It's Impossible”: Opposing Big Ten Coaches, Players Chime in on What It's Like to Compete Against Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison Jr., who has been projected as a top-three pick in most 2024 mock NFL Drafts, draws daily praise from Ohio State coaches, players and fans alike.

With another standout season, he'll have a strong case to be considered one of the greatest receivers to ever don the scarlet and gray, which is lofty praise considering both the history of the OSU wide receiver position and the recent track record of Brian Hartline when it comes to producing NFL-caliber wideouts. In fact, many fans believe Harrison has already accomplished enough to hold such status, as evidenced by the recent voting results in the wide receiver installment of Eleven Warriors' Four Kings series.

RELATED Four Kings: Cris Carter, Marvin Harrison Jr., David Boston and Chris Olave Selected As Ohio State’s Greatest Wide Receivers

"There's probably some guys in the NFL that can't cover him, he's that good," Ryan Day said Wednesday, not mincing words. "We're lucky to have him."

But praise from his own coaches and teammates is to be expected. A more unfiltered assessment of the Big Ten Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, per Cleveland.com, could likely be gleaned from hearing input from those that have to either coach or line up against him on Saturdays.

In the last two days, several Big Ten coaches and players were asked how difficult Harrison Jr. is to game plan/play against, with conference foes offering no shortage of praise for the standout wideout. 

We've compiled their answers below.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa head coach

• On game planning for Harrison: "It's impossible, in a word. You probably saw it was a challenge (last year), it's a challenge for everybody. Theoretically, we can only see him one more time, and that would be a good thing I guess. You follow the NFL Draft the last five years, it says a lot about the caliber of players that they have. Especially at that position." 

Can't Guard Marvin Harrison Jr. pic.twitter.com/McbUN4CjO1

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2023

Greg Schiano, Rutgers head coach

• On preparing to face Harrison: "It's very challenging. There's things you can do in game planning, you do everything right and then he still makes the play. So there's your game plan, right? I mean, he's a rare athlete." 
• On the perils of other wide receivers beating you defensively if you pay extra attention to Harrison: "They have a lot of (good wideouts). They also have a few running backs and a big offensive line, it's not an easy job (to stop them). That's why most people haven't been able to do a very good job of slowing them down. But you have to have a plan, and a method of which you're gonna do it. You believe it, your players believe in it then you go do it the very best you can. That's what we'll do when we finally get to them later in the season."

James Franklin, Penn State head coach

• On what player he reminds him of: "That's hard to say. Obviously, he's one of the more talented receivers, if not the most talented receiver in college football. That's already a pretty impressive thing to say about any player in college football. He's also an impressive young man and comes from an impressive family. So what he's been able to do is special." 
• On preparing to scheme against him: "Like most people, you're trying to identify who their best player is and who their most impactful player is. You're trying to limit their production as much as you possibly can, and force another player from another area of the offense to beat you. For example, if you have (Penn State running backs) Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen as your running backs, I would think most defenses are going to say 'We're going to load the box, take the run away based on numbers and force a first-year starting quarterback to beat us. We're not going to allow the proven commodity to beat us. Now, that's easier said than done. So that will be a challenge, but we're looking forward to that challenge. That's why you play in the Big Ten and why you come to Penn State to play these types of games against these types of opponents."

Keaton Ellis, Penn State safety

• On facing Harrison this year: "He's a great player, but we're prepared as a defense with the work everybody has put in this offseason. We're first focused on West Virginia first, but when that game comes, we're going to prepare like we always do." 
• On what he remembers about competing against Harrison from a year ago: "He's a smooth route runner with good hands. It's always fun when you're playing against competition like that. We're just really excited about the work we've put in through this offseason." 

Mike Sainristil, Michigan cornerback

• On what he remembers facing Harrison Jr. from a year ago: "I think I had two plays against him. One play was a blocking play, the other was he caught a reception. He's a good receiver and I have a lot of respect for what he's done. He's going to be a top NFL draft pick when he declares. One thing I do remember for sure is that he's very quiet. I remember wanting him to say something, but that's the type of guy he is. His game is going to speak for him. I can't wait to match up with him again this year." 
• On if he tried to get Harrison Jr. to say something: "No, I wasn't chirping at him or anything like that. I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to see him say something." 
• On how he prepared for him leading up to the game: "I just watched his film and made sure I knew what type of release he's going to get (depending on which side he lines up on), what foot he has up and what his techniques are, how he plays the ball in the air. Are his hands late? Does he jump a lot? I just really studied him a lot as an opponent and used that to help with my preparation. 
• On his ability to play the ball in the air: "If his spectacular catch rating in Madden was to be rated by me, I think it would be in the 90s."

Michael Locksley, Maryland head coach

• On game planning for Harrison Jr.: "He's one of the top players in our league. His size, speed and strength is definitely the first thing that jumps out. Any time we compete against a guy like that, the goal is to try to find a way to take away his opportunities. I don't know how you do it. I'm glad we don't play him early, we'll get a chance to watch him on film and get a feel for what this year's version of him looks like. Any time you compete against the best, it's great for our team and our players."
• On what Maryland's strategy was against Harrison Jr. last season: "It was a close game, but we had two guys that are now playing on Sundays (covering him) and one went in the first round. It was talent vs. talent. We felt good about Deonte Banks and Jakorian Bennett's ability to cover. But I can tell you he was a tough matchup but our guys competed and I thought it was a really good competition on the outside between those guys." 
• On how he compares to other Big Ten wide receivers in Locksley's Big Ten tenure: "He's one of the best. This league has had a lot of great players. I've had an opportunity to have two different stints in this league and there's no doubt he's one of those guys that when you do play him, you better know where he is and find ways to take him out of the game."

Tarheeb Still, Maryland cornerback

• On what it was like to face off against Marvin Harrison Jr. last season: "He's a really good guy and a really good competitor. He brings a lot to the game as a wide receiver. It's always good going against a guy like that and I'm looking forward to the matchup this year. He goes hard every play and runs every route 100 percent."
• On where he ranks against other receivers he's covered in the Big Ten: "He's up there. I'm not really into like ranking guys or anything, but I'd say he's a really good wide receiver."

I know Marvin Harrison Jr. making incredible catches is nothing new, but this one on the sideline is something else.

Look at where his body is, and where his foot is. pic.twitter.com/RUx4u2NA2G

— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) November 12, 2022

Tom Allen, Indiana head coach

• On the challenge of game planning against Harrison Jr. for Week 1 of the 2023 season: "I've done this a long time. I've been against some of the best wide receivers in America, and he may be the best one I've ever gone against. Because there's just the combination of ridiculous ball skills, I don't think he ever drops a pass, he always just finds a way to come down with it, and he's really fast and runs great routes. It's just on and on and on. He's pretty special, and he obviously learned from a pretty special one himself learning from his father. I have a lot of respect for that guy and he's going to have to be someone that we'll have to deal with. We're going to have to have a great plan to not let him be that guy that beats you."