There were times over the past year that some people thought Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had a chance to be the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Of course, we all know that won’t be happening. After all, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is just about as close to a lock for the top pick as you could get.
But that’s certainly no knock on the ultra-talented Harrison.
As deep and star-studded as this is a quarterback draft, the wide receiver class is nearly as impressive.
Sure, LSU star Malik Nabers has plenty of supporters, but most people agree that Harrison is the best of the class.
(Although, there are reports of teams being concerned that he doesn’t have enough “dog” in him.)
Harrison of course is the son of legendary Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr.
To his credit, Junior has made a proper name for himself and all the praise he gets is well-earned. Having said that, Senior being his father is a cherry on top for many evaluators across the league.
It’s safe to say Junior is more advanced than most thanks to his bloodlines and all the priceless teaching he’s had throughout his life.
Harrison Sr. recently gave a fascinating interview to Marty Smith of ESPN.
The Hall of Famer spoke about just how proud he is of his son and how he’s carved out his own path for himself.
However, he did have one criticism.
He said he wishes his son was more of a diva and demanded the ball a little harsher than he does.
“There is one thing that I wish he had from my game. You got to complain for the f*cking ball,” he bluntly said.
“You got to complain … If I had five catches, 70 yards, we can’t do nothing else until we have a meeting because I’m not getting the ball. That’s it. Throw me the ball. Period.”
What’s surprising about those comments is the fact that Senior was a pretty quiet and mild-mannered player – especially by wide receiver standards.
Sure, he was competitive. Hell, you better be competitive if you want Peyton Manning to throw you the ball … But Harrison Sr. never threw too many fits on the sidelines the way some modern-day divas do.
Harrison Sr., who enjoyed a prolific 13-season career with the Indianapolis Colts, emphasized the importance of being more vocal and demanding the ball more.
Of course, that tactic can wear very thin. However, it can also lead to a competitive edge as long as it’s used correctly.
Fair or unfair, perhaps this is why some teams have concerns about Harrison Jr. not having enough “dog” in him.
That certainly wasn’t an issue at Ohio State where Junior dominated (when healthy) … However, as we all know, things won’t come nearly as easy for him (or anyone) in the NFL.
He won’t be able to get away on just talented alone … Having said that, he sure as hell does have a lot of talent.
What are your thoughts on Senior’s comments?
While he was most likely just joking around, do you think there’s a little underlying message there?
How do you think Junior’s going to translate to the NFL?
Is he the clear-cut top receiver? … Or are you in the camp that believes Nabers is the best of the bunch???