OSU's Marvin Harrison Jr. Out for Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri amid 2024 NFL Draft Rumors

Standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will not suit up in Ohio State's upcoming matchup with Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, according to Spencer Holbrook of On3.com.

This decision is likely to prevent him from suffering an injury which could hurt his draft stock, as he's expected to be one of the top picks in April. Harrison Jr. wrapped up another memorable season for the Buckeyes in 2023 by taking home the Biletnikoff Award, the nation's highest honor for a collegiate wide receiver.

In 12 appearances, the junior wideout hauled in 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. Harrison Jr. also totaled 1,263 yards in 2022, becoming the first receiver in Ohio State history to record multiple seasons surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. Pro Football Focus currently has him ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2024 draft class.

As Harrison Jr.'s time with the Buckeyes is likely coming to an end soon, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline discussed the impressive mindset and demeanor that the 21-year-old always carried and compared it to another notable figure in a separate sport.

"It's the way he did everything," Hartline said, per Holbrook. "It's the way he prepared, it's the way he talks. It's the way in our group chats, the messages we put in that group chat, the reactions to those messages, the conversations about elite players, the Kobe [Bryants] of the world, the Mamba mentality. That's really what's elevated that bar."

With Harrison Jr. out, the Buckeyes will lean on Emeka Egbuka and freshman Carnell Tate to keep the team's passing game afloat. The two have combined to record 52 catches for 712 yards and five touchdowns this season, although Tate has seen limited snaps and Egbuka missed three games due to an ankle injury.

Ohio State will look to pull off a short-handed win against the Tigers on Friday, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET.