Kyle McCord didn’t have his top target on the field for long on Saturday.
But when he did, the Buckeye offense had several of its most successful plays in the early stages of Ohio State's spring game.
Four of McCord’s first seven pass attempts went to Marvin Harrison Jr., his high school teammate at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and three of them were hauled in. In just three catches, Harrison racked up 62 yards – including a 36-yard reception – which accounted for more than a third of McCord’s passing yardage on the day. That total would likely have grown significantly had Harrison played more in the exhibition, and perhaps the Ohio State offense would’ve gotten the ball in the end zone a couple more times. But that brief window alone was a glimpse into the promising potential that the pair’s longstanding connection could have for the Buckeyes in 2023.
“We first started playing with each other my sophomore year of high school, it's something that we always talked about. And obviously it's crazy the way everything works itself out, us both being here,” McCord said last month. “And I'm definitely excited to be able to play with them. I mean, I didn't get a lot of reps with him last year, just because he was going with the ones with C.J. But the chemistry is definitely still there. I throw with him a bunch. It's my best friend. It's funny, I tell him if I was athletic enough to play DB, I'd be able to lock him down, because I know all of his moves. Which he laughs at. But no, it's good. I mean, it's always fun to play with a guy like that, his caliber. And as well as your best friend.”
It’s not hard for any high-level quarterback to develop a penchant for finding Harrison on the field. After all, he’s widely considered the best wideout in college football entering this season, if he wasn’t already in 2022. Harrison caught 77 balls for 1,263 yards and 14 scores last year en route to unanimous All-American status, becoming the Buckeyes’ first-ever Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year.
But that was with C.J. Stroud, a projected top-five pick in the NFL draft, throwing him the ball. Harrison will have a relatively unproven commodity targeting him in 2023, and the Buckeyes have yet to name a starting quarterback as they head into the spring. Harrison said he’s also developed a bond with Devin Brown, but it doesn’t date back nearly as long as the relationship he has with McCord.
Former St. Josephs Prep School teammates Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. connected three times during Ohio States spring game.
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) April 15, 2023
In limited playing time, Route Man Marv had three catches for 62 yards, all of which came from the slot. pic.twitter.com/wTux14NCMt
“I think we definitely have a connection, just going back since we were sophomores in high school. Obviously, the more you throw with someone, the more connection you get,” Harrison said this spring. “And he kind of knows what I'm doing, I know what he's doing. But I've developed that connection too with Devin over time. He's been here last year a little bit and then obviously, a couple practices here and then in the offseason throwing with him as well.”
Even NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., who spoke with reporters at Ohio State pro day last month, has strong feelings about McCord. Harrison Sr. said he’s had ample time to develop over the past several years and believes fans will be wowed by the results whenever his opportunity to start arises.
“Kyle’s a very competitive guy. I’ve been around him for about four, five years now. I’m looking forward to him,” Harrison Sr. said. “He’s been very patient. I’m sure he’s learned a lot over the last two or three years here. So his day is gonna come sooner or later and we’re all gonna be impressed with him.”
Harrison Jr. said many of the same physical traits that impressed him about McCord’s game in high school are still evident today at Ohio State. But Harrison Jr. said McCord has taken clear strides in his mental approach to the game, which he’s seen grow after the past couple seasons.
“I think he can make every throw, no matter where I'm at on the field. I could be on the opposite side, he could be on the far hash, he can still get the ball there,” Harrison Jr. said. “Whether I'm in the boundary, he can go throw the deep ball, intermediate; his timing is very precise. So that's probably the best thing I like about him. …Obviously the arm talent is still there. It was always there. Just more so the mental aspect of the game. He spends a lot of time watching film and just trying to anticipate throws. That's probably where he's grown the most.”
As for where Harrison’s improved since his time at St. Joe’s, McCord gave a similar analysis of his teammate. Not only has Harrison gained ground physically, but McCord said his IQ on the football field is something that truly sets him apart.
“It's funny looking back. I remember we watched, I think it was his sophomore year high school tape, and he was obviously a great receiver then. But just got bigger, stronger, faster, quicker,” McCord said. “I think his football IQ is at the next level now. It's funny, talking to him, I think he sees the field like a quarterback, which is something that not a lot of guys that I've played with have had. And after a play, go back and talking to him, I mean he knows what I'm seeing. And I think that helps with him getting open, and I think that has really allowed him to take his game to the next level. And then obviously, on top of his work ethic.”
There’s no guarantee that McCord will start the season as the Buckeye quarterback passing Harrison the ball, and beyond his few completions to No. 18, McCord’s spring game performance was shaky at times. But Ryan Day likes the progression he’s seeing from McCord under center, and his chemistry with Harrison can only help him as he tries to lock down the starting job in the preseason.
“He's growing. I think that the picture sometimes was clean, other times not as clean. I think Marvin only played a couple drives there and then he was out, and certainly not having Emeka (Egbuka) and Julian (Fleming) and those guys,” Day said of McCord after the spring game. “But you saw there was some sparks. … Being able to make those throws are big down the field. When you have an opportunity to make those downfield throws, that's been the difference for us. When we're explosive, we're at our best football, and so that was a step in the right direction.”
