Tag: Marvin Harrison Jr

Ohio State football in top five for 2025 four-star linebacker

The Buckeyes are squarely in the mix for one of the nations top 2025 linebackers

Ohio State football is once again looking toward St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a top prospect.

If you didn’t know, that was the high school [autotag]Marvin Harrison Jr.[/autotag] prepped at and there is always good talent in the program. It is also the former high school of Kyle McCord. One of those prospects is linebacker, [autotag]Anthony Sacca[/autotag], who named his top five Thursday that includes Ohio State along with Alabama, Duke, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 225-pound linebacker is one of the best players in the nation, as the 247Sports Composite Rankings have Sacca as the No. 21 prospect at his position and the 173rd overall player in the country.

The Buckeyes have eight total commits in the 2025 class at the moment, one of them also being a linebacker in Eli Lee. Sacca would make a big time pair with the current commit, so making his top five is a step in the right direction with his recruitment.

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Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr declares for the NFL Draft

One of the best wide receivers in the history of the Big Ten is headed to the NFL.

The last few days have been very good for Ohio State football. Several top draft prospects have announced they will return for the 2024 season. One Buckeye, however, that won’t be returning is star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner announced on Thursday that he has declared for the NFL Draft. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, the younger Harrison is considered one of the best wide receiver prospects of the last decade.

For the Buckeyes, the Philadelphia native recorded 150 receptions for 2,495 yards and 31 touchdowns. This past fall, Harrison recorded 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games. He also had over 1,200 yards in 2022 over 13 games.

While Harrison Jr will be off to the NFL, likely as a top-five draft pick in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft, the Buckeyes will be returning wide receiver Emeka Egbuka next fall. Egbuka announced his plans to return to Columbus on Thursday.

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Ohio State football NFL draft declaration tracker

A look at Ohio State football’s key players that decisions to make on the NFL draft and where each stands. #GoBucks

It’s been a whirlwind of an end to the 2023 college football season already. The early signing period has come and gone, there’s been a lot of movement in and out of the transfer portal during the first wave, and there’s only more to come.

In addition to that, there are several players that still have to make decisions between returning to college ball for one more season or entering the NFL draft. And — at a place like Ohio State, that’s an annual event in and of itself with so many going on to play at the next level.

Fear not, because we are here to keep track of it all for you. All told, there are fourteen key Ohio State football players that have or had decisions to make, and we’re updating what each decides as the news becomes available.

There have been rumors that a significant contingent of the loaded junior class may decide to come back to the banks of the Olentangy for one more run, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Here is where things stand with each as we soldier on through the “offseason.”

2024 NFL draft: Early top-10 wide receivers for an epic class

2024 NFL draft: Early top-10 wide receivers for an epic class from Brennen Rupp

Over the past four NFL Drafts, there have been 44 wide receivers selected in the first two rounds. In both the 2020 and 2022 drafts, there were six wide receivers taken in the first round and seven selected in the second round.

The 2024 NFL Draft could exceed those numbers, with potentially 17 wide receivers that could be selected in the first two rounds. Let’s take a look at the top end of what could end up being a historic wide receiver class. 

Rutgers football: Kyle Monangia earns spot on PFF’s All-Big Ten Team

Kyle Monangai gets an annual honor from Pro Football Focus.

As Rutgers football took a step forward during the 2023 campaign, they relied on Kyle Monangai to set the tone on the ground. The New Jersey native was up to the challenge and had a career year. Due to his play, the talented running back is receiving national recognition.

On Wednesday, PFF College released their All-Big Ten team offense rankings. Monangia was chosen as the Big Ten’s running back. He was included in an offense that features some of the best players in college football, such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.J. McCarthy.

In 12 games during the regular season, Monangai set career highs in rushing yards with 1,099 and rushing touchdowns with seven. He also made an impact in the air with 61 receiving yards. Regardless of the opponent, Monangai made an impact due to his explosiveness.

 

Additionally, his breakout season was partly due to an increase in workload. Before the 2023 season, Monangai’s career high for carries was 109. He shattered that mark by recording 217 carries and avoided any significant injuries.

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While his recognition on PFF’s rankings is noteworthy, it confirms what everyone in Piscataway already knew. Monangai was one of the best running backs in the conference. He was invaluable to a Rutgers offense that needed a sparkplug.

Next year, Monangai will be looking to build on his success and take Rutgers football to another level.

Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. wins Biletnikoff Award

Another one for the trophy case. #GoBucks

Marvin Harrison Jr. has been named the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner as the most outstanding receiver in college football. He becomes only the second Buckeye to win the award joining 1995 winner Terry Glenn, though many would argue the Ohio State receiver should’ve won the award last year as well.

As good as Harrison has been this year, he faced some stiff competition in Washington’s Rome Odunze, and LSU‘s Malik Nabers. Harrison won the award by exactly one vote, making this the closest race in Biletnikoff History.

Harrison was quoted as saying “I always wanted to win it for ‘Zone 6’, ‘Wide Receiver U.'”

It’s another feather in the cap of one of the all-time greats in Ohio State history. Now the question remains, will Marv come back for one more go in Scarlet and Gray?

*** Please note, this article originally stated that LSU’s Malik Nabers finished second in the Biletnikoff voting, but that was omitted in the most recent version. There is no way to ascertain which player finished second.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. 

Big Ten Network’s Nicole Auerbach gives Rutgers football’s Kyle Monangai a helmet sticker for the season

Big Ten Network’s Kyle Monangai is given a helmet sticker by the Big Ten Network.

With the college football regular season in the books, schools nationwide have shifted their focus to the 2024 campaign. However, the fun is far from over, as awards still have to be given out. On Tuesday, Rutgers earned high praise from Big Ten analyst Nicole Auerbach.

On the X app, Auerbach and Howard Griffiths revealed their rankings for who has the best helmet sticker. The list included Blake Corum, Aaron Casey, Jay Higgins, Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Sainristil and Kyle Monangai. While Monangai was the only Rutgers player on the list, he earned a special ranking.

 

Auerbach listed the Rutgers star as second on her list, ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. Her list also included Sainristil, who was ranked number one. Griffith’s top three consisted of Casey, Higgins, and Corum.

During the 2023 campaign, Monangai’s helmet sticker was a source of frustration for defenses as he took his game to another level. In 12 games, the New Jersey native recorded a career-high 1,099 rushing yards. He also was a touchdown machine with seven.

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As a result, he gained more national attention than ever before as Rutgers got off to an encouraging start. Auerbach seemingly took notice, placing him on a list that included some of the best players in the conference.

Will all 4 Heisman trophy finalists be first-round picks?

Three of the four finalists appear to be first-round locks, but the jury is still out on the fourth

The four finalists for the 2023 Heisman Trophy were revealed on Monday night. It’s an impressive quartet of college football players, all of whom seem deserving.

College football awards don’t always mean much to the NFL, however. While most Heisman trophy finalists wind up being prominent NFL draft picks, it’s not a given.

Take 2022 finalist Max Duggan. The TCU quarterback was the runner-up a year ago, but Duggan didn’t hear his name called until the seventh round of the NFL draft. Some recent examples like 2017 runner-up Bryce Love (4th round) and QB finalists Collin Klein (2013, undrafted) and Jordan Lynch (2014, 7th round).

This year’s final four features three players who seem like first-round locks:

It’s the fourth finalist who might not make it into the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has the game to merit first-round looks, but his lengthy injury history and advanced age are real drawbacks to the NFL. Penix suffered two ACL tears and two serious shoulder injuries during his six years of college, spread between Indiana and Washington. He turns 24 the week after the draft, too.

Right now, Penix appears in some first-round projections but falls into the first half of the second round in others. Last year’s winner, USC QB Caleb Williams, is not a finalist in 2023 but still figures to be among the top five picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

Jameis Winston predicted half of the 2023 Heisman Trophy finalists

Jameis Winston knows ball. Two of the New Orleans Saints quarterback’s Heisman Trophy picks are finalists for this year’s award:

Jameis Winston knows ball. Like all former Heisman Trophy winners, he’s given a ballot for the award’s voting each year, and the New Orleans Saints quarterback shared his picks for the 2023 finalists earlier in November.

And half his picks made the cut. Winston named LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and Oregon Ducks passer Bo Nix as two of the most impressive players in college football this season, and they’re both in the running with invitations to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation coming up in December. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. also made the cut.

Winston’s other two picks were left out, though: USC Trojans signal-caller Caleb Williams (the reigning winner) and Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (who led Winston’s alma mater to an undefeated season and conference championship). Williams regressed this season and Travis suffered a season-ending injury, so neither of them were in the running when it came time for voters to turn in their ballots.

So who is going to be this year’s winner? We’ll have to wait and find out when the 2023 Heisman Trophy is awarded on Saturday, Dec. 9.

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Herbstreit: Marvin Harrison Jr. Not a ‘slam dunk’ to enter the 2024 NFL Draft

Harrison is the early consensus best prospect, but Herbie believes he might return to Ohio State

In what is stacking up to be one of the most loaded draft classes in recent memories there seem to be multiple high level stars potentially choosing to stay in school as an effect of the lucrative NIL deals offered in college football. One of those stars is Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who is wildly regarded as the top receiver in the country and a locked-in Top-10 draft pick.

According to ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit in an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, although it is likely Harrison will eventually declare for the 2024 NFL draft, it is not necessarily a guarantee.

“It’s not just a slam dunk anymore, with some of these guys maybe staying because of the money they can make,” Herbstreit said.

Herbstreit went on to reference that due to the amount of money college players can get, those projected to go in the later rounds are more likely to stick around due to receiving lucrative NIL deals.

Harrison not entering the draft would certainly shake up the draft process, and while it remains unlikely it plays out that way, it’s true that the NIL has majorly thrown a wrench into draft projection.