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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Heisman Trophy futures: Does Buckeyes' wide receiver have a shot?

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 8/21/23

Winning the Heisman as a wide receiver is difficult. Only five have ever done it so far, but with the game changing that number is going to keep going up more in the years to come, possibly as soon as this season. It was just a few seasons ago that Devonta Smith won the award with Alabama. His numbers were impressive, but it was actually an interesting call given the overall dominance of that team.

This season, the top candidate at the position is not even in the top 10 in odds, even though that player might be the best pro prospect at any position for the upcoming draft. If you like to take a portfolio approach with this sort of thing then he is definitely worth including. His ceiling as a candidate might be limited, but it is hard to see a poor season.

2023 Heisman Trophy Odds

Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State +2000

The Case For

Just in case you were not aware, yes, he is the son of Marvin Harrison, the Hall of Fame receiver with the Indianapolis Colts. However, don't let that fool you. While the elder Harrison was one of the savviest route runners in NFL history, his son, while also highly skilled, is a pure physical mismatch. He is four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than dad, using his size and speed to major advantage. Last year he had more than 1200 yards receiving and scored 12 touchdowns. Even more impressive, he was dominating Georgia until he got hurt, maybe costing the Buckeyes a national championship.

Ohio State has rapidly become WRU and Harrison is the latest in line. This year, with a first-time starting QB, players like Harrison might get even more credit. Ohio State is loaded overall and has a number of prime-time opponents against who he can prove his worth - Notre Dame early and Michigan late. It is all there for him to take advantage of.

The Case Against

It is hard to win this award as a receiver, and especially hard at a place like Ohio State where there is true competition for catches. Last season, Emeka Egbuka also had 1000+ yards and 10 TDs and there are high-level recruits in the pipeline. Plus there is a chance that a top running back tandem vultures some scores as well. Being the best player in the country does not always mean putting up the best numbers. His presence helps those other players.

Also potentially negatively affecting this play is the fact that the Buckeyes have a new quarterback this season, and nobody thinks he is as good as the one that left. That is a high standard (second overall pick), and when you get a new guy under center, even if things look the same they can be different. Chemistry matters for receivers to put up big numbers and Kyle McCord might not be as good or more inclined to look in a different direction than CJ Stroud did.

Value: Medium-Low

All you have to do is look at Harrison and see how he could be an NFL star. Unfortunately, that is not a Heisman Trophy prerequisite, and on a stacked offense he might not have enough of a bump from last year's stats to really break through. I am a little down on OSU this season, which is not his fault, but if they are 10-2 instead of 12-0/11-1 it will have an impact.

Pass.

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