Ohio State junior wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will find out his fate as it relates to the Heisman Trophy on Saturday evening, but the award finalist – one of four in New York for the presentation – is honored to even be in discussion for the trophy given to the most outstanding player in college football.
“It’s definitely a blessing to be able to, especially as a receiver, be in conversation for the Heisman,” he said Thursday. “Obviously, I couldn’t do it without teammates, my coaches who allowed me to be in position to succeed on Saturdays. I’m glad I can be a representative of Ohio State for the award.”
Harrison forced his way into the conversation behind 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns through 12 games, all of which led Ohio State this season. He had eight games with at least five receptions, 100 yards and a touchdown, became the first Ohio State receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, and passed David Boston for the most 100-yard receiving games in program history with 15.
While Harrison is not considered the favorite for the Heisman Trophy – LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is expected to beat out the field that also includes Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. – the receiver has already brought home some hardware, announced on Friday as the winner of the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football. He is just the second Ohio State player to win the honor, joining Terry Glenn, who won in 1995.
All of this recognition – not to mention his status as a potential top draft pick, should he depart for the NFL as expected – has been a long time in the making for Harrison.
“I think definitely coming in as a freshman, those are dreams very, very far away and never thought that I’d be the position I am now,” he said. “I think as you get closer to it, you still start to realize what you’re accomplishing. They were really just dreams at first.”
Even if Harrison does not come away with the Heisman Trophy – an Ohio State player has not done so since quarterback Troy Smith in 2006 – the trip to New York will still be a special one for him.
In the lead up to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Harrison recalled his earliest memories of the city, spending time with his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., as the longtime Indianapolis Colts wide receiver awaited potential induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And it’s been a surreal experience for Harrison to arrive at this point where he is up for his own accolades that recognize him among the best in college football.
“The first year my dad was up for the Hall of Fame, he was in New York, actually, and I remember being in a hotel room with him throughout the time,” Harrison said. “We got to explore the city a little bit and just wait for his name to be called to be elected for the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he didn’t get in that year. That’s something I definitely always remember about New York.
“It’s kind of crazy, how many years later now that I’ll be going to New York myself as Heisman finalist – which is nowhere near to being a Hall of Famer – but it’s how the years have just gone by and what I’ve been able to accomplish. If you’d have told that kid that his dad was waiting to be a Hall of Famer at that time, that one day you can go to New York yourself and be a Heisman finalist, would have been very surreal. Definitely a special place for me.”
