Heisman finalist Marvin Harrison Jr. once reflected on mother Dawne Harrison's influence: "She's my escape from football"
As the 2024 NFL draft inches closer, projected first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. has become the talk of the town for many football analysts. The Heisman Trophy finalist has a lot of passion, which is evident in his playing style. Sometimes everyone needs a break from the madness that is college football, and Harrison turns to his mother, often on a late-night call.
When he calls his mother, Dawne Harrison, football rarely comes up in conversation. Harrison discussed how important his mother is to him in December 2023 (via Cleveland.com):
“She’s my escape from football. Obviously, she supports me with my football career, but just having a mother first, it’s so important to me. And then talk to her about how I’m doing mentally, or academically or just anything that’s going on in my life, it’s really important for me.”
Dawne Harrison is a pillar in her son's life. He learned the importance of hard work from his mother when he witnessed her get up at 4 a.m. to start her day and work two jobs.
“If she’s getting up on four hours of sleep, I have no excuse not to either,” Harrison said.
Marvin Harrison Jr.'s mother emphasizes the importance of academic excellence
Marvin Harrison Jr. has broken many records as the wide receiver for Ohio State, but his parents push him to achieve excellent grades as well. When he was in middle school or high school, Harrison Jr.'s mother made sure that he focused on his studies as much as he did on sports.
"Obviously, she wants me to succeed in my athletic career, but definitely academics is always her part in my life growing up,” Harrison said. “Whether it was middle school, high school, always making sure I get my homework done and things like that.”
Harrison Jr. is favored by some to be picked by the New York Giants in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft, although that is a subject of much debate. Deemed as one of the best wide receivers in his class, Sportskeeda's 7-round Mock Draft Simulator says that he could go anywhere in the first five picks and it will be interesting to see if that is the case.
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