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Marvin Harrison Jr.: Latest example of why NFL Draft rules must change

Marvin Harrison Jr. was on hand for Ohio State’s Pro Day in Columbus on Wednesday. Unfortunately for NFL teams, it was only to catch passes from top 2023 NFL Draft prospect C.J. Stroud.

As just a sophomore, Harrison Jr. is not eligible to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He will have to wait for next year.

That’s pretty much to the chagrin of teams and general managers around the NFL world. Harrison Jr. absolutely shined above top 2023 NFL Draft prospect and fellow Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in front of league decision makers.

“(It’s) like window shopping at a Lamborghini dealership for the model that doesn’t come out until next year,” an unnamed NFL scout told ESPN’s Jordan Reid.

The 6-foot-3 Harrison Jr. was a four-star recruit out of Philadelphia back in 2021. He chose Ohio State over powerhouses such as Penn State, Notre Dame, LSU and Alabama. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, the young kid showed out big time in catching passes from Stroud as a sophomore last season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. stats (2022): 77 receptions, 1,263 yards, 14 TD

Harrison’s performance last season included a 106-yard, two-touchdown outing against an elite Georgia defense in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff loss to the Bulldogs.

Related: Sportsnaut’s 2023 NFL mock draft

Marvin Harrison Jr. as a top NFL Draft prospect

marvin harrison jr., nfl draft
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

First off, Harrison Jr. is the latest example for those who believe that the NFL should change its entry guidelines. He has a pro-ready frame and is already skilled enough to make an impact at the highest-level football has to offer.

What reason would Harrison Jr. have to return to Ohio State if it weren’t for the rules precluding sophomores from making the jump? Realistically, he’s only risking injury while playing amateur athletics.

Coaches and decision makers around the NFL marveled at what Harrison Jr. had to offer during Ohio State’s Pro Day. Terms such as “Incredible, really impressive and he looked like a dude” came up.

If draft eligible this spring, Harrison Jr. likely would be a top-10 pick and the first wide receiver off the board.

Heading into the 2023 college football season, he has to be seen as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate. And once next spring comes calling Marvin Harrison Jr. will be mentioned with the likes of quarterbacks such as Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. That’s how well he’s viewed within the NFL scouting community.

In fact, there’s a chance he could be the highest wide receiver selected since Calvin Johnson went No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions back in 2007. That’s some elite company.

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