Top NFL Draft prospect Marvin Harrison Jr. out for Ohio State in Cotton Bowl vs. Mizzou
Dec 29, 2023, 5:04 PM | Updated: 5:13 pm
Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 23, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON (AP) — Two-time AP All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is not playing in the Cotton Bowl for seventh-ranked Ohio State, though the junior has made no announcement on whether he will declare for the NFL draft.
Harrison was among the players listed as unavailable on a pregame report from Ohio State before Friday night’s game against No. 9 Missouri. Also out is starting linebacker and leading tackler Tommy Eichenberg, the fifth-year player who had been questionable because of an arm injury.
If Harrison declares for the draft, the Heisman Trophy finalist is expected to be one of the top picks in April.
The 6-foot-4 Harrison had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He has 155 catches for 2,613 yards and 31 TDs in 38 games for the Buckeyes over the last three seasons.
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Harrison was a unanimous AP All-American for the second season in a row and won the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation’s top receiver.
While he is with the Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl, Harrison was mostly on the side when practice sessions were open to reporters. When asked specifically Thursday if Harrison would play, coach Ryan Day had said he wouldn’t answer that question about Harrison or any other players.
“I feel like those are decisions that players make, they and their families. And so I never want to be the one to go out and put it out there,” Day said. “Our guys have been great and professional.”
