'It's Crazy': Marvin Harrison Jr. 'Blessed' to Make Ohio State Buckeyes History in Victory
"Marvin, which of your three touchdowns was your favorite?"
Before the question could even be finished, the Ohio State Buckeyes' star wide receiver stood at the podium and delivered his answer.
"The rushing one," Marvin Harrison Jr. said bluntly. "We've called that play three times in my career so far, and I came up short the first two times. I finally got in [the end zone] this time. It was the first rushing touchdown of my career, so that was special."
The play in question came during the Buckeyes' first drive. They needed to set the tone early in order to ensure a home victory, and they did just that. An eight-play, 75-yard drive did the trick, though it was Harrison Jr.'s first-ever rushing score that added the first points to the scoreboard.
But he didn't stop there.
Marcin Harrison Jr. scores another touchdown vs. the Michigan State Spartans
Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
By the end of the game, Harrison Jr. had accounted for three of the Buckeyes' five touchdowns on the game — two receiving, one rushing — and broken records at the same time, becoming the first Ohio State receiver in school history to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Safe to say, he was glad to be in solo company.
"It's crazy," Harrison Jr. said. "All praise and glory to God. He's blessed me with a lot of different gifts ... and with the ability to accomplish a feat like that. To be the first-ever to do something in Ohio State history, especially as a receiver, that means a lot."
Harrison Jr.'s 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns have told the story of his season. Not only has he established himself as a top target for Kyle McCord, but he's established himself as one of college football's best, and will likely join the Buckeyes' elite list of NFL receivers by the time he's ready to declare for the Draft.
And part of that he says, has come from being back on the field with McCord, his former high school teammate.
"We played with each other in high school, but it's totally different in college," Harrison Jr. said. "The players are better, the schemes are different. We're still trying to adjust [to each other] ... and trying to be on the same page."
"It's been great though," he added. "It's definitely been super exciting to play with him again, and great to continue our connection on the field."
That connection is showing, and it's showing clear as day, which was something that Buckeyes coach Ryan Day noted during his postgame presser, especially regarding the abilities of his top receiver.
"Marvin made some big-time plays," Day said. "He really got us going. I thought the [rushing touchdown] was really well executed. ... Marv is a special player. We're always going to find ways to get him the ball."
So far, that's also been evident. Harrison Jr. is a big-time weapon for the Buckeyes and will continue to be such — even having garnered some Heisman-level praise for his continuous impressive performances. But he isn't worried about that.
He just wants to win.
"I just wanted to beat the team up north and go to a Big Ten Championship," Harrison Jr. said. "I'm thankful to even be in the conversation."
