Draft Analysis: Marvin Harrison Jr.

March 7, 2024 /
  • Height: 6’3″
  • Weight: 209 lb.
  • College: Ohio State
  • Tape watched: Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Rutgers, Georgia (2022)
  • NFL Comparison: Julio Jones

Pros

  • Footwork

No wasted movement to be found, Marvin Harrison Jr. has elite footwork. The speed at which he can get off the line of scrimmage, accelerate to full speed, and burst into and out of his route breaks is a rare ability. Harrison Jr. is NFL ready with his release and route running, and his footwork is a major reason why.

  • Tracking

Harrison Jr. finds every ball thrown to him.  He especially excels at tracking deep balls downfield.  He has soft hands and great concentration to reel in throws over his shoulders.

There isn’t a harder catch to make than this one. Harrison Jr. finds the ball directly over the top of his helmet and get shis feet in bounds.
  • Route Running

As technical as you will find in this draft, Harrison Jr. is detailed and precise on every route. He dissects zone coverage, understanding where defenders will drop and leaving his quarterbacks with great anticipation windows. Harrison Jr. attacks man coverage with physicality and tempo changes. He uses his length to lean on defenders while keeping his hands active throughout the route.

As stated, the burst into and out of route breaks is a special skill that is matched by few in this draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr. exceeds at every level on the field. Harrison Jr’s. 3.44 yard per route run is an elite stat that shows how well he can accelerate downfield and separate from the line of scrimmage.

  • Release

I can’t emphasis it enough, the suddenness at which Marvin Harrison Jr. turns on the jets is impressive. If defenders aren’t 100% ready to match his speed with the perfect cushion and speed-turn, he will run by them. It is almost impossible to get hands on Harrison Jr. in press coverage because of his foot-fire and body control. His hesitation and slow release is also a killer if defensive backs get caught flat footed.

Midline

  • Contested Catches

While he makes some spectacular plays, Marvin Harrison Jr. also can drop the more elementary catch opportunities. A lot of his contested catch targets were poor throws and low percentage throws, but there are times where Harrison Jr. drops balls over the middle of the field that need to be converted into catches at the NFL level.

A great route and high point by Harrison Jr. ends in a drop. If he can learn to rip away from the defender he will dominate these plays on Sundays.

Cons

  • YAC

Without space to run, Harrison Jr. does not create with the football. He also is a very easy tackle, only forcing five missed tackles in 2023.

  • Blocking

Unless the block is free or he catches someone off guard, there isn’t much effort in the run game. He will keep his feet moving and drive defenders out of plays only if conditions are perfect. He was late or gave no effort almost every interior blocking assignment he had.

Overview

Marvin Harrison Jr. has been touted as a blue chip NFL prospect for two years straight, and he has lived up to the hype. Harrison Jr. looks like a receiver that will change an offense in year one, ala Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Julio Jones. The blend of size, power, and speed makes him a perfect target for quarterbacks. He can run every route in an NFL playbook with ease. MHJ is dynamic enough for defenses to have to gameplan around him, and he won’t wait long after the Draft begins to hear his name called.