Marvin Harrison Jr. on if Syracuse football was ever among his top 5 schools: ‘Not a chance’

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of the all-time Syracuse great wide receiver, stunned former SU linebacker Zaire Franklin when he declared there was “not a chance” that he would have considered Syracuse football as his college program.

Harrison Jr. was a guest on Zaire Franklin’s “In the Trenches” podcast and, as part of some good-natured banter, he was asked if Syracuse was ever among his Top 5 schools.

“Not a chance,” Harrison Jr. said.

Franklin reacted with amused shock.

“That’s crazy,” Franklin said. “That’s crazy.”

Harrison Jr., ranked the No. 160 recruit in the Class of 2021, later provided some detail on why he didn’t consider Syracuse a viable option for him out of high school.

“When’s the last time Syracuse had a receiver come out?” Harrison Jr. asked.

Syracuse hasn’t had a wide receiver selected in the NFL Draft since Mike Williams was picked in the fourth round in 2010. The last Syracuse receiver picked in the first round was Marvin Harrison Sr. in 1996. Kevin Johnson was selected in the second round in 1999.

Syracuse hasn’t had an offensive skill position player drafted since Ryan Nassib in 2013. The last offensive skill player selected in the first round was Donovan McNabb in 1999.

That reality has hampered Syracuse since it entered the ACC and is a pattern that Syracuse head coach Fran Brown will be eager to snap quickly.

Harrison was the No. 4 pick in last year’s NFL Draft. It was the third consecutive season that Ohio State had a receiver taken in the first round.

Franklin said he couldn’t argue that Harrison Jr. made a poor choice in attending Ohio State, but he did provide a defense of the Orange program, pointing out that both Amba Etta-Tawo and Steve Ishmael were All-Americans at wide receiver during his time with the Orange.

Franklin also used the moment to express optimism that Syracuse fans will be able to celebrate an Orange lineage in the near future, referencing Carmelo Anthony and his son, Kiyan, who is currently being recruited by the men’s basketball program.

“I’m not going to let you do that,” Franklin declared, laughing. “Oronde Gadsden II is coming out this year. We’ve had All-Americans when I was there. I get the scheme was different. Look, you’re here, so I’m not going to say your path was wrong. Just know I was rooting for you from afar. Same way, Kiyan we got our eye on you.”

While Harrison Jr. may have turned up his nose at Syracuse football, Orange fans can take some solace in his defense of the program’s new quarterback.

Harrison was complimentary of quarterback Kyle McCord, pointing out that McCord was integral to his success over the years.

McCord’s presence at St. Joseph’s Prep was part of the reason that Harrison Jr. transferred to that school and away from Franklin’s alma mater (LaSalle College) after his freshman season of high school football. The two schools are fierce rivals in Philadelphia.

“I pulled a KD (Kevin Durant),” Harrison Jr. admitted, referencing Durant’s choice to depart Oklahoma City and join the Golden State Warriors as a free agent in 2016.

Franklin reacted with amused frustration to that choice as well, stating the pair of them could have formed an NFL pipeline from LaSalle.

“As a receiver you need a quarterback no matter what you’re trying to do,” Harrison said. “You need a quarterback to be successful.”

Harrison was complimentary of McCord’s play at Ohio State, pointing out that if one or two plays had gone differently, he’d be the quarterback that led the Buckeyes to a win over Michigan in a battle of unbeatens.

“I think Kyle is a great quarterback,” Harrison Jr. said. “I really do. What happened last year, if you really look at it, we’re a play away from beating a national championship team. The situation didn’t really work out in his favor and we brought in some transfers from Kansas State and a freshman from Alabama. He wanted to do what was in the best interest for himself, go to Syracuse and start over. I expect great things, honestly.”

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