Syracuse Football: Marvin Harrison Jr spurns Orange for OSU

Syracuse football swung and missed on the son of a legend. Here’s why Marvin Harrison Jr spurned the Orange for OSU this week.

Syracuse football had a really cool opportunity to continue a legacy, but they swung and missed on the recruiting trail.

Marvin Harrison Jr, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison who made his bones on the hill with the Orange, made his college decision this week.

The youngster will be taking his own unique path to the NFL at Ohio State, instead of following in his father’s footsteps at Syracuse.

He was offered by the Orange back in 2018, but since then has become one of the most desirable receivers in the country.

That notoriety has forced some of the biggest schools in the country to throw offers from LSU to Florida to Notre Dame, Michigan, and the list goes on.

The Orange thought they’d be able to pluck the heartstrings of the 6-foot-4, 184 pound 4-star talent. But alas he has chosen a different path.

It’s a disappointing turn of events because it seemed like all the stars aligned for the Orange.

Syracuse plays in a dome, which is six guaranteed games of a controlled environment. Dino Babers is running the Orange is the New Fast offense which allows the wide receivers to put up video game-like numbers that attract scouts and NFL teams alike. Look no further than Steve Ishmael and Amba Etta-Tawo.

While the cherry on top of this Syracuse sundae featured his father as the biggest advocate for the Orange since day one. Marvin Harrison Sr put caught 135 receptions for 2,728 yards and secured 21 touchdowns.

Which set up Marvin to be the 19th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He would then ascend to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Indianapolis Colts and he won his lone Super Bowl championship with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Peyton Manning.

If Syracuse truly wants to get back to the glory days of the original Marvin Harrison, they’re going to have to do a better job on the recruiting front.