Welcome to the Skull Session.
The Marvin Harrison Jr. Skull Session, that is.
(Three of the four sections feature Marvelous Marv).
Have a good Wednesday.
NEW BALANCE ATHLETE. This week, Marvin Harrison Jr. inked a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance, becoming the brand’s third sponsored American football athlete after former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. agrees to a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance and will help debut the brand's first-ever American football cleat at the NFL draft on Thursday. https://t.co/QaEt4SqhFA
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2024
At the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, Harrison will help New Balance debut its first-ever American football cleat. Before that occurs, however, Harrison participated in a Q&A with Chris Bumbaca of USA TODAY Sports to discuss his partnership with the brand, as well as some of the “uncertainty” that surrounds his draft position before Thursday.
USAT: Draft week’s finally here. What are the vibes? How are you feeling?
Marvin Harrison Jr.: “I’m feeling good. Definitely super excited to figure out where I’m going. That’s definitely the biggest thing – you don’t know where you’re going to go. So just excited to get that process over with (and) get ready to work when I get there.”
USAT: Are you a guy who welcomes uncertainty in that sense, or are you really looking forward to Thursday a lot?
MHJ: “I just need to know what’s going to happen so I can start to plan and move accordingly. I don’t really like the uncertainty.”
USAT: There’s been much debate about the elite talent in the class and which one should be taken first. But have you gotten to know either Malik (Nabers) or Rome (Odunze) during the process?
MHJ: “Yeah, we kind of knew each other way before this year, really, just always talking through social media, communicating that way. I think we all support each other. There’s not really any animosity between us. I think we all see that we’re talented players and, like I said, we support each other and root each other on.”
Wait, wait, wait… there’s still debate about who the first wide receiver selected in the draft will be? You mean to tell me that the back-to-back unanimous All-American, Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman finalist isn’t the clear-cut favorite to be the top pass-catcher selected on Thursday?
In what world…
“MARVIN HARRISON IS NOT NO. 1.” Oh, yes. This world. The world where anonymous NFL executives and scouts control the narrative. This week, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic talked with several NFL representatives who believe LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers is a better prospect than Harrison. Here are each of the quotes that compare the two prospects:
From WR Coach 1
“(Harrison’s) not No. 1 to me,” said a veteran NFL receivers coach, whose team is in the market for another top receiver, and whom we’ll ID as WR Coach 1. “(LSU’s Malik) Nabers is the No. 1 on my list and I think he is on a lot of people’s lists. He’s just different to me. I don’t think it’s anything toward Marvin, it’s just really that Nabers is that good. His skills with the ball in his hands are really different. His acceleration is just different. His explosive is different. He tracks the ball really well. He’s a smaller guy but he can still play outside. He’s rare in a lot of ways. He’s got some Ja’Marr Chase in him and some DJ Moore skills. I hesitate to say this because Tyreek Hill’s speed is just so different from anybody in the league, but Nabers has some of that kind of burst and just so explosive off the line of scrimmage. … He’s as fast as the person chasing him. He’s gonna run away from whoever. If Deion was chasing him, he’d go 4.21 or whatever. He’s the best WR prospect since Chase and on tape, I think he’s even more impressive. This dude is different.”
From Offensive Assistant 1
“It’s Nabers and then there’s a gap,” said Offensive Assistant 1. “He is the best wide receiver in the draft in a couple of years, maybe more. He is Tyreek Hill combined with both of those San Francisco guys (Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk). He is so explosive. He has a second gear. He can stop on a dime. He breaks tackles. You can’t jam him because he’s just too quick and if you miss at all, he’s gonna outrun you. He’s really competitive but he can be a pain in the ass. He’ll be the guy who’ll have something to say to the coordinator coming off the field. He’s got that edge to him where he doesn’t know when to let up. He doesn’t know that those guys are on his side.”
“Marvin is really good. Polished,” said Offensive Assistant 1. If you’re looking to pick on something, he’s not gonna run by people. They’re gonna squat on him at the top of the break. He’s good. I just wished he did the testing. He comes across as casual a little bit.”
From Scout 1
“He just doesn’t have that innate dog that Malik has.”
From WR Coach 2
“We have Nabers as No. 1. He’s got all the ability in the world. He’s got Receiver No. 1 written all over him,” said WR Coach 2.. “He does have some stuff he’s got to clean up. Route running, which will come naturally with the right coach and group of receivers. So much upside. He just brings a different presence. His physicality. You see that on tape. He’s got that dawg in him.”
“Harrison is like a fluid, smooth receiver,” said WR Coach 2. “He doesn’t have the same elite traits like Nabers. He can separate and catches the ball real well. I don’t think he wows you.”
Alright.
Let’s review.
Nabers is “different.” Harrison is just “really good.” Nabers is “the best wide receiver in the draft in a couple of years, maybe more.” Harrison is just a “fluid, smooth receiver.” Nabers has “got that dawg in him.” Harrison “comes across as casual a little bit.” Harrison “doesn’t have that innate dog that Malik has.” Harrison “doesn’t have the same elite traits Nabers has”... “I don’t think he wows you.”
These takes are just asinine – just absolutely asinine.
Before I move on, I have to address two of them.
To call Harrison “casual” when he spent hours upon hours at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center catching passes off his Monarc Seeker is one of the worst takes I have ever heard.
No, wait. To say Harrison – a 6-foot-4, 209-pound receiver who made some of the most impressive catches in college football over the past three seasons – doesn’t wow as a pass-catcher is the worst take I have ever heard.
But let’s be real. They’re both bad.
Regardless of what some NFL coaches, executives and scouts think (or I think), Harrison told Bumbaca that he doesn’t care whether he is the first receiver taken in the draft. He just wants to land with a team that will transform him into the best player he can be.
“I mean, it’d be nice (to be the top receiver). I honestly don’t care about it too much,” Harrison said. “Really just more focused on going to the right situation for me, that’s going to help me be the best player I can be these first four years in the NFL. Whether that’s the first receiver off the board, third, fifth, or whatever that may be, I’ll just be happy that I’m getting drafted. And then like I said, just to do my best.”
Gosh, this kid rocks.
WHERE DO THEY STAND? While Harrison will be the lone Buckeye at the NFL draft on Thursday, eight other Buckeyes hope to be selected in the second through seventh rounds on Friday and Saturday, including Mike Hall Jr., Cade Stover, Tommy Eicheberg, Josh Proctor, Steele Chambers, Matt Jones, Miyan Williams and Xavier Johnson.
This week, Dane Brugler of The Athletic featured six of those Buckeyes in his list of the top 300 prospects available in the draft class. They were Harrison, Hall, Stover, Eichenberg, Proctor and Chambers.
Marvin Harrison Jr., No. 2 Overall
Harrison has dominant receiving traits and can win from anywhere on the field, because of his athletic gifts, route savvy and adjustment/finishing skills at the catch point. He is among the best receiving prospects to enter the NFL in recent memory, and he has the dedication to his craft to be a playmaking No. 1 NFL receiver and future All-Pro.
Mike Hall, No. 60 Overall
Hall was more of a flash player than a consistent force, but his quick-twitch movements and natural energy are the ingredients of a disruptive gap penetrator. If he stays healthy, he will be an immediate rotation player and eventual starting three-technique tackle in a four-man front.
Cade Stover, No. 101 Overall
Stover might never be a top-tier blocker, but he is solid in all phases and will earn NFL paychecks using his coordinated athleticism to finish at the catch point and move the chains. With his defensive mentality, offensive skills and special-teams experience, he projects as an NFL role player with starting upside and valuable versatility.
Tommy Eichenberg, No. 106 Overall
Eichenberg isn’t a proven playmaker in coverage, but he understands pursuit angles and displays outstanding key/read/flow skills versus the run. He has the talent, football character and feel for the game to earn a starting job during his NFL rookie training camp.
Josh Proctor, No. 165 Overall
Proctor has some hiccups in man coverage, but he sees the field well and offers the range and run-defending skills to work his way up an NFL team’s safety depth chart. He has a skill set that should shine on special teams, although everything will depend on his ability to stay healthy.
Steele Chambers, No. 247 Overall
Chambers needs to continue developing his feel for blocking schemes and cover responsibilities, but his athletic range and play personality are solid foundational traits for the next level. He has the talent to compete for a rotational linebacker and special-teams role in the NFL.
I know Brugler is one of, like, 1,000 draft analysts, but his top 300 lists have been relatively accurate in years past in determining when players will be selected.
If Brugler’s list holds true in 2024, Harrison will be a first-round pick (duh) and Hall will be a second- or third-round pick, followed by Stover (third or fourth round), Eichenberg (fourth or fifth round), Proctor (fifth or sixth round) and Chambers (seventh round or undrafted). Meanwhile, Brugles projects Jones, Williams, and Johnson to go undrafted, but I imagine all three prospects will be priority free-agent signings as soon as the draft ends.
Does that mean we will see all nine of Ohio State’s draft prospects on NFL rosters for Rookie OTAs?
I think so!
GET WELL SOON, TOM. Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan was involved in a car accident on his way to campus on Tuesday. He was later transported to the Wexner Medical Center, where – thankfully – the hospital’s team of medical professionals classified his injuries as non-life threatening.
Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a car accident on Tuesday. https://t.co/buHWzNKTYx
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2024
“University and department of athletics staff members have Tom and his family in their thoughts,” the Ohio State athletic department said via a statement.
I also had Tom in my thoughts on Tuesday, and I will for the foreseeable future.
While covering Ohio State wrestling for The Lantern, Buckeye Sports Bulletin and now Eleven Warriors, I have had the honor of speaking with Tom several times for stories. He runs an elite program – one that has one of the two non-Penn State national championships of the past 13 seasons – and is, without a doubt, one of the school’s finest representatives. He is compassionate and kind; he is smart and wise. I wish him the best in his recovery. Hopefully, he will be back to his energetic self in no time!
SONG OF THE DAY. “I Remember Everything” - Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves.
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