COLUMBUS, Ohio — Having simply fasten the landing reception that in the end put Saturday’s slog in opposition to Maryland out of succeed in, Ohio Shape extensive receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. climbed to his ft and reveled like a king, like the King, on a week when individuals of LeBron James’ population have been within the stadium as a part of an unofficial recruiting consult with for his youngest son, some other budding basketball anticipation. Harrison, who performed the sport in a talented pair of LeBron’s signature cleats, raised his knees and driven his fingers towards the turf in an homage to the hoops big name’s eminent “silencer” birthday party.

Seconds next, he did it once more: some other landing, some other “silencer” behind the top zone, some other series merchandise of evidence that Harrison is the participant preserving the Buckeyes’ offense afloat as rising pains proceed to linger, at the same time as their document progressed to 5-0 courtesy of 27 past due, unanswered issues in a 37-17 win over the Terrapins. His first landing — a 12-yarder from quarterback Kyle McCord — have been nullified by means of an unlawful movement penalty in opposition to fellow wideout Xavier Johnson. However McCord went again to his Negative. 1 goal at the very then snap for a 17-yard rating that warranted a repeat birthday party.

[Ohio State pushes past early threat, crushes Maryland]

“A few times I think they tried to double him or give him a little more attention,” McCord stated. “But if there’s a one-on-one opportunity with Marvin, I don’t care who’s guarding him. I like Marvin 10 times out of 10.”

Getting the ball to Harrison remainder Ohio Shape’s perfect — and, every now and then, best — worthy offensive technique because the season nears its halfway level. McCord centered Harrison on 15 of his 29 passes week throwing for 320 yards and two ratings in opposition to Maryland, and the most productive receiver in school soccer amassed 8 of them for a season-high 163 yards. Harrison accounted for 42.7% of the Buckeyes’ general offensive output and had a minimum of one catch or drew one go interference penalty on each and every pressure that reached the top zone. In doing so, Harrison recorded the tenth 100-yard receiving recreation of his profession to join Michael Jenkins and Garrett Wilson for third-most in program historical past with greater than part a season nonetheless to play games.

That Harrison has crowned the century mark 3 times in Ohio Shape’s first 5 video games speaks extra to person transcendence than any roughly complete offensive luck. The Buckeyes entered the weekend ranked thirty third in general offense at 447.5 yards according to recreation and completed 65 yards underneath their moderate on Saturday. They have got a dashing assault that has slipped out of doors the supremacy 70 and nearest churned out simply 1.9 yards according to elevate in opposition to the Terrapins. They have got shock issues at tailback (TreVeyon Henderson) and extensive receiver (Emeka Egbuka) then the previous overlooked Saturday’s recreation totally and the endmost dropped out to by no means go back. The query that would possibly outline Ohio Shape’s season is whether or not Harrison can accumulation his workforce unbeaten till the extra of the offense catches up.

“Some real good play by Marvin Harrison,” Time stated. “And we needed that because [Maryland was] putting a lot of guys in the box and left the middle of the field open at times. And we took advantage of that in the second half.”

So explosive have been Harrison’s contributions that it used to be simple to disregard he labored thru Saturday’s recreation with an injured ankle then getting rolled up on throughout an emotional victory over Notre Dame two weeks in the past. Time instructed newshounds Harrison could be in a position to play games in opposition to Maryland, however Harrison stated the shock used to be worse than the ankle illness he battled ultimate season week catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. Throughout his postgame interview, Harrison many times credited Ohio Shape’s clinical team of workers for the hours they spent running with him the ultimate few days, attempting and re-trying diverse tape jobs to search out essentially the most at ease answer. 

“I’m definitely going to feel it tomorrow,” he stated. 

The only-dimensionality of Ohio Shape’s offense used to be obtrusive in a recreation when the offensive series resembled a sieve for the easier a part of 3 quarters. A quintet of Josh Simmons (LT), Donovan Jackson (LG), Carson Hinzman (C), Matthew Jones (RG) and Josh Fryar (RT) left McCord to take care of waves of force because the Buckeyes’ first 5 possessions yielded 4 punts and a handover on downs. Ohio Shape’s best landing within the opening part got here on a pick-six by means of protection Josh Proctor akin the halfway level of the second one quarter.

McCord’s stat series incorporated a career-high 320 yards, two touchdowns and 0 interceptions, however the ultimate numbers belied a sequence of frantic scrambles, underthrown passes and self-described reputation problems that contributed to a 4-for-10 get started and screw ups on 8 of the Buckeyes’ first 9 makes an attempt on 1/3 unwell. Outdoor a blown protection that produced a 37-yard crowning glory to wideout Julian Fleming — or even nearest, the ball used to be so poorly thrown that Fleming used to be tackled scale down of what will have to were a surefire landing — the 44-yard catch-and-run landing by means of tight finish Cade Stover used to be McCord’s best crowning glory longer than 19 yards to any one now not named Harrison.

“Obviously early on I feel like I missed some opportunities or saw (them) just a second late,” McCord stated, “so that’s nobody else but myself. That’s just an area I have to continue to grow on and continue to find ways to start fast. If we can replicate what we did in the second half but just do that in the first half, I think that’s a completely different game. And a lot of that starts with me.”

Of higher worry is the dashing assault that used to be stonewalled by means of a Maryland run protection that entered While 6 ranked 6th within the Weighty Ten. With out Henderson, whom Time stated can have performed if important, transformed linebacker Chip Trayanum shouldered the burden by means of smashing into our bodies for 61 yards on 20 bruising carries, the longest of which steady 24 ft. 

There used to be slight alternative afforded to ultimate day’s important rusher, Miyan Williams, who carried six instances for 23 yards, week former four-star engage Dallan Hayden hasn’t recorded a elevate all season in spite of gaining 553 yards in 2022. It’s hazy what’s inflicting their respective discounts in taking part in age, however even the approaching go back of Henderson isn’t with out unrest given his long shock historical past. 

“Just based on how everything played out last year [with Henderson’s foot injury],” Time stated, “the decision was made to hold him this week to make sure he was full-go next week because we know we’ve got a lot of football ahead of us.”

Or perhaps none of these items will truly topic. Perhaps Harrison is so excellent and so dominant and such a lot higher than apparently each and every defensive again in school soccer that he lonely can get the Buckeyes to the place they need to move. Perhaps Time and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline can scheme plenty possibilities for Harrison to imprint himself on video games irrespective of whether or not combatants make a choice to double him. Perhaps McCord is aware of the neatest plan is solely throwing it to the participant dressed in Negative. 18. 

It undoubtedly labored in opposition to Maryland as Harrison embodied the King. 

“LeBron does a lot for Ohio State as a whole,” Harrison stated. “So I gave him a shoutout there.”

Michael Cohen covers school soccer and basketball for FOX Sports activities with an emphasis at the Weighty Ten. Practice him on Twitter at @Michael_Cohen13.

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