Are Marvin Harrison Jr. Led Buckeyes No. 1 Receiving Corps In College Football?

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka headline the Buckeyes' stacked group of receivers, which is arguably the nation's best heading into the fall, according to PFF

Author:
Matt Guzman
Jul 15, 2023 8:19 PM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

If the Ohio State Buckeyes want to make noise around college football next season, they'll need to prove it on the football field.

In recent years, that hasn't proven to be an issue for one of the nation's top programs. Staying diligent on the recruiting front has helped coach Ryan Day's squad to contend year after year — something that not many teams can claim.

Next season, Ohio State will once again be looking to make its way back to the CFP before the expanded format kicks in, and to do that, it will look to its elite receiving corps. So elite, in fact, that it could be the best in college football.

In a recent top-10 ranking done by PFF, the Buckeyes topped all receiving corps in the country with their expected returning talent and incoming prospects, being placed ahead of powerhouse schools like Georgia, LSU and Alabama.

"Ohio State’s receiving corps features the two best receivers in college football, making them the no-brainer choice to lead this list," the site wrote. "The Buckeyes return the remainder of their top-six receivers from a year ago as well, including Cade Stover, a top-10 tight end in the country."

Last season, rising juniors Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka handily led their team in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions. If either of them had been with any other program, they would likely have been given the "WR-1" tag almost immediately. Now, imagine two of them together — not even counting the Buckeyes' other non-1,000-yard options.

Makes for a pretty dangerous picture, doesn't it?

"Harrison Jr. could go down as the best receiver prospect in over a decade once he enters the NFL draft," PFF continued. "Emeka Egbuka is the favorite to be WR2 in the 2024 draft behind Harrison and would be the top receiver for any other school in the country. Only Harrison tallied more receiving yards and touchdowns last season than Egbuka among returning Power Five receivers."

With a majority of its options returning, whoever lands the starting quarterback role will have plenty of players to choose from on the field. Even if they aren't Egbuka or Harrison Jr. — though chances are they will be — the Buckeyes have a strong class of recruits set to make their debut this season.

So, with a trip to the playoff on the line in Day's fifth full season, the Buckeyes have weapons. And if they use them correctly, they could find themselves right in the middle of the title contention conversation.