Marvin Harrison Jr. determined to snap losing streak to Michigan
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. runs drills with teammates before game against Iowa Saturday October 22, 2022 at Ohio Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
INDIANAPOLIS — The reigning Big Ten Receiver of the Year has had a lot of success as a student-athlete, but there’s one feat that he’s eager to accomplish at Ohio State.
It’s no mystery that the Buckeyes have lost to the team up north for two-straight years. Not to mention Ohio State was unscathed in Big Ten play in each of those seasons approaching the clash with Michigan. However, Marvin Harrison Jr. is focused on getting his team over the hump. He even emphasized that to a crowd of reporters at Big Ten Media Days.
The conference title continues to run through Michigan, so changing the narrative is what’s been keeping Harrison motivated. After all, the last thing he wants is to end his career winless against the Wolverines.
“It’s no secret about it, you have to win that game though,” Harrison said. “When you come to Ohio State that’s the one game you have to win, and we haven’t done that for the past two years.”
The stud wideout held up his end of the bargain in last year’s battle at the Horseshoe. Harrison hauled in seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, but it still wasn’t enough. He understands that it’s going to take more than just a potent aerial attack to conquer the physical Wolverines. The Buckeyes have to get back to dominating in the trenches.
“So we went back to the drawing board this offseason to try to get tougher in the weight room,” he said. “You have to run the ball, you have to stop the run and it all goes from there.”
Harrison is arguably the best pass catcher in all of College football. His 1,263 receiving yards ranked second in the Big Ten, and sixth nationally in 2022. Harrison led the conference with a jaw-dropping, 14 touchdown receptions. Playing alongside Emeka Egbuka again means they’ll be the best wide receiver tandem in the game.
Regardless, it won’t mean anything if the quarterback’s aren’t on point with the rest of the offense. Which is why Harrison been working non-stop on building chemistry with the new gunslingers.
“They need to trust me, and as a quarterback sometimes you’re out there and things move fast,” the 20-year old said. “But if they can trust that we’re going to get open and catch the ball, it’s going to go a long way for them, so that’s what I try to do for them.”
The more depth Ohio State has, the better off it’ll be down the stretch of the Big Ten meat grinder. Harrison wants everything to be a well-oiled machine by the time the Buckeyes invade the Big House. It’s mind-boggling that it’s late July, and an All-American is talking about winning a game in late November.
It just goes to show that the passion and tradition of the rivalry runs deep in the players, and Harrison wants to leave it all on the field this time around. That way he’ll have no regrets, so expect the anticipation to be through the roof after Black Friday.
