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Marvin Harrison Jr. is handling the NFL Draft process differently than any other player before him.
Harrison Jr., a superstar wide receiver from Ohio State, made that much clear well before he arrived in Indianapolis for the NFL Draft Combine.
But the son of Hall of Fame wideout Marvin Harrison drew some ire on Friday when he no-showed his schedule press conference time at the event.
An NFL spokesman told reporters that #OSU WR Marvin Harrison Jr. won’t talk to the media at his previously scheduled 8:20 am press conference.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2024
Harrison Jr. previously stated that he would not take part in drills at the event and wouldn’t attend Ohio State’s Pro Day, opting instead to focus on NFL prep.
Which is a decision you can get away with when you’re a potentially generational wide receiver prospect. But it begs the question, why didn’t Harrison Jr. alert media members sooner that he would not be attending the press conference segment of the combine?
The sudden change had some wondering if his behavior may eventually affect his draft stock.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is doing the NFL Combine his way, that’s for sure. https://t.co/kXf19g5llx
— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) March 1, 2024
he’s already a diva and hasn’t even been drafted lmfaooo https://t.co/cTrkYNbyL4
— zachary Hayz (@hayz_zachary) March 1, 2024
Then again, when you’re as good a prospect as Harrison Jr., it probably doesn’t matter all that much.
“Harrison comes from impressive NFL bloodlines and possesses similarities that made his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, special. Harrison can run but isn’t a burner. What makes him tough to handle is his consistent play speed paired with quality salesmanship in his routes,” Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said of the Buckeyes star. “He’s able to uncover no matter where he’s aligned or which part of the field his assignment takes him to, and he is capable of finishing catches in a crowd. Harrison can be sudden while working possession routes, and he’s well qualified to beat any opponent with his ball skills if the battle heads deep.
“Harrison is a touchdown champ with a variety of ways to excel, and that characteristic figures to follow him into the pros. He has the traits and tools to win in all three phases of the route and on all three levels of the field. He’s a pedigree prospect and a Day 1 starter with high-end production expected.”
Press conference or no press conference, Harrison Jr. feels like a lock to go in the top five come draft day.