Marvin Harrison Jr. was a unanimous All-American last season despite playing with a sprained ankle for most of the year.
During FOX’s broadcast of Ohio State’s game against Western Kentucky on Saturday, sideline reporter Allison Williams revealed that Harrison suffered a sprained ankle in Ohio State’s second game of the 2022 season against Arkansas State. Despite the injury, Harrison never missed any time and established himself as the best wide receiver in college football, catching 72 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns over the course of the season.
Watching Harrison make one spectacular catch after another last season, no one would have guessed that he was playing at anything less than 100 percent. One certainly wouldn’t have guessed he was playing on a sprained right ankle when he used that same ankle to make college football’s catch of the year last season against Indiana.
I know Marvin Harrison Jr. making incredible catches is nothing new, but this one on the sideline is something else.
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) November 12, 2022
Look at where his body is, and where his foot is. pic.twitter.com/RUx4u2NA2G
Harrison told reporters Wednesday, however, that the injury did affect him for most of last year.
“I was only able to cut off one foot throughout the whole year, so just didn't really have much strength or mobility in the ankle,” Harrison said. “So it was really hard, but I just managed it.”
Harrison said the injury didn’t stop him from running at full speed but that it made it difficult to cut or decelerate with that leg. As a result, Harrison said he had to be mindful of the injury while he played.
“I felt it each game. I knew I couldn't really plant off that one leg how I really wanted to,” Harrison said. “I think if you really watch the film, I switched my feet a little bit on the route or just being mindful of it. Changed my depth a little bit, with still being within the offense but worked some ways around it.”
The star receiver, who briefly left Ohio State’s season opener against Indiana with an apparent shoulder injury, said Wednesday that he would not describe himself as “fully healthy” right now but that he is not having any lingering issues with his ankle.
“I definitely have confidence in both legs now to be able to decelerate and accelerate on both legs,” Harrison said. “So I’m excited about that.”
Considering how well Harrison played last season, there’s not necessarily any need to take his game to another level from where it already was, but Harrison believes he is able to do more physically than he could a year ago because he is healthier.
“It definitely helps having both ankles’ mobility to use,” Harrison said. “This year, I think, I definitely have the full arsenal.”
Harrison has caught 14 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns through Ohio State’s first three games of the season. He’ll certainly be a big part of the game plan this week as the Buckeyes head to Notre Dame to play their first ranked opponent of the season, and Harrison will be looking to play spoiler in South Bend.
“This is why you come to Ohio State to play in this big of a game, primetime game with a 7:30 kickoff, top-10 teams going at it,” Harrison said. “I like playing on the road … the villain mentality you have when you’re going on the road, I really enjoy.”
