Why Didn't Buckeyes Star Marvin Harrison Jr. Speak At Combine?

Ohio State Buckeyes star Marvin Harrison Jr. ruffled some feathers this week at the NFL Scouting Combine after leaving before speaking on the podium.

Ohio State Buckeyes star Marvin Harrison Jr. was supposed to be the talk of Friday's NFL Scouting Combine during the interview session, so much so that his podium was packed to maximum capacity 10 minutes before he was set to take the stage. 

Set is the keyword here. Harrison never showed. Nearly 15 minutes after his scheduled start time, an NFL combine official notified reporters that Harrison would not speak to them, suggesting the reason was unknown.

"Marvin is not going to be speaking here," said the spokesperson. " I don't have any other information."

Why? Why did Harrison not meet with reporters and then leave Indianapolis? Everyone already knew he wouldn't be testing this week or later on at Ohio State's Pro Day, but to avoid questions? 

There's a simple explanation why; because he can. 

Since the start of last offseason, Harrison's name has been at the forefront of draft-eligible receiver conversations. Scouts believed if Harrison left Columbus as a sophomore, he'd be the favorite to become the first receiver selected and a consensus top-10 pick.

Fast forward a year and a Biletnikoff Award-winning season later, Harrison is a top-five lock in 2024. Considered by some as the top prospect in the class, the All-Amercian son of Hall of Fame target Marvin Harrison Sr. is expected to land no later than No. 4 with the Arizona Cardinals. 

Why speak when anything out of one's mouth could be viewed as a negative? Why say anything to see your words twisted in a way that makes you look like the villain or the problem? 

Harrison, who measured 6-3 and 209 pounds with a 77.25-inch wingspan prior to leaving Indy, has little to lose and nothing to gain by speaking. He's not testing, making sure scouts take a double look at the film to make sure there aren't any holes in the translation to the next level, so why talk? 

Perhaps this was the plan all along? Harrison broke his silence by reposting a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, from Shane P. Hallam of Draft Countdown that implied combine officials knew conversations weren't going to happen. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t show up to his scheduled press conference at the Combine yesterday.

Combine officials shrugged and acted like they didn’t know where he was and what was happening.

What baffles me is, they KNEW he wasn’t going to be there.

They weighed MHJ EARLY so…

— Shane P. Hallam (@ShanePHallam) March 2, 2024

Harrison, who caught 67 balls for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, might not speak during Pro Day workouts later this month. Even after all the promising conversations with local reporters, he could be looking out for himself and his future. 

Harrison met with nine teams in Indianapolis. If one doesn't like what they heard, they'll pass on him for a different position. If one loves everything he provides, the franchise might be willing to sell the building just to move up and acquire him. 

Regardless of what those in attendance felt happened, Harrison avoiding questions might end up being a reason why he's drafted before quarterbacks like LSU's Jayden Daniels, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Michigan's JJ McCarthy. 

Even if those same teams are in dire need of a new signal-caller.