In 1989 Deion Sanders pulled up to the NFL Scouting Combine in a limousine wearing a business suit and dress shoes. With every intention of setting a new mark in the 40-yard dash, the star cornerback/return man lined up in front of the league's most notable scouts, general managers, and coaches, including the great Bill Belichick, before jetting down the track. Officials clocked "Prime Time" at around 4.27--although some contest his time was actually 4.19. Nevertheless, he made history in record time by standing out in a draft class that included other future Hall of Famers such as Troy Aikman, Derrick Thomas, and Barry Sanders. According to the legend, Deion Sanders never broke stride after completing his record-setting run. He didn't stick around for the vertical jump, the broad jump, the 20-yard shuffle, or the bench press competition. Instead, he confidently ran straight back to his limousine, and in doing so, he created one of the most mythical stories in league history.
Fast forward to the present day, where Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., is the third-best college football player in the country. At 6'4" and 205 lbs, the Ohio State University wideout is projected to go as high as #2 in the 2024 NFL Draft. It's too early to determine if the unanimous All-American selection from a year ago will even partake in the 40-yard dash at next year's NFL Scouting Combine. At the moment, his draft stock is so high that he might not need to. But if he does, he's already calling his shot. Much like "Prime Time" from over three decades ago, Harrison Jr. has indicated that if he runs the 40-yard dash, he'll make history with a 4.3. At this year's NFL Scouting Combine, the wide receivers with the three fastest times were: Trey Palmer (4.33), Derius Davis (4.36), and Matt Landers (4.37). Therefore, if Harrison Jr. had been a part of their rookie class, a 4.3 finish would have put him in the record books with the fastest time amongst players at his position.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Ohio State Buckeyes will open the 2023 season on the road against Indiana on Saturday, September 2nd.
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