Scarlet Sunrise: C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. named Walter Camp National Player of the Year semifinalists
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
QB C.J. Stroud, WR Marvin Harrison Jr. named Walter Camp National Player of the Year semifinalists
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. have a special connection. Stroud is in the lead for the Heisman Trophy race with a nation-leading 34 touchdown passes, and 11 of those have gone to Harrison, who makes head-turning catches week after week. Harrison still doesn’t have a drop this season. He’s coming off a seven-catch, 135-yard, one-score performance against Indiana — it was an outing that included his favorite reception of the year: a mind-boggling, toe-tapping grab that appeared, well, unhuman.
Stroud and Harrison were both recognized as semifinalists for the Walter Camp National Player of the Year award Wednesday. Here’s who also made the list.
Former DT Antwuan Jackson selected in XFL Draft
The third iteration of the XFL is back for 2023, and its draft is underway. Former Ohio State defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson was picked by the Seattle Sea Dragons. Jackson played for the Buckeyes from 2018-21. He amassed 48 total tackles, including 3.5 sacks.
Jackson got his most run last year, when he played 310 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound interior defensive lineman had his best game in 2021 against Penn State — he recorded a sack and came up with three total stops, per PFF.
Buckeyes lose commitment from Class of 2023 RB
Class of 2023 four-star running back Mark Fletcher decommitted from Ohio State last night. Fletcher is the No. 17 rated running back in the country and is a top 300 prospect this cycle, according to On3. He was the only Class of 2023 running back committed to the Buckeyes. Ohio State has offered eight different backs this cycle.
Fletcher — who plays at American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — has recently made visits for the Miami-Florida State game on Nov. 5 and the Florida-South Carolina game on Nov. 12.
Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class now consists of 20 players. It’s a group On3 ranks fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten.
Full coverage of Buckeyes preparation for Maryland
Ohio State is heading to College Park this weekend, where it will face a Maryland team that’s on a two-game skid after starting the year 6-2 and, before that, 4-1. The Terrapins’ lone loss in their first five games was a one-score defeat to Michigan. Since, however, things haven’t been the same for head coach Mike Locksley’s group. Still, Maryland is bowl eligible for the second year in a row and has a shot at its first eight-win season since 2010. The Terps have never knocked off Ohio State, and, actually, the Buckeyes have scored north of 60 points in four of their seven games against Maryland.
Spencer Holbrook, Andy Backstrom and Tim May were back inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center after Wednesday’s practice, discussing that matchup during the Practice Report presented by Byers Auto. Every Wednesday night following the media session with select Buckeyes players, Spencer, Andy and Tim will chat about the major Ohio State storylines and what’s to come in the weekend ahead.
The Lettermen Row squad is back for a full report on what it learned after hearing from Buckeyes players.
What’s the weather looking like for The Game?
Low of 30º, high of 43º, partly cloudy skies, 12% chance of rain, winds 10-15 mph
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Maryland: 2 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 9 days
Are you subscribed yet?
Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to the everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.
Already signed up? Don’t forget to join us in the Lettermen Lounge to talk about the latest Ohio State sports news.
