Marvin Harrison Jr. has been hearing folks speak loftily of him since his second season at Ohio State.
The Cardinals rookie wide receiver's attempt to make good on those expectations begins with Arizona's Week 1 trip to Western New York for a Sunday date with the Buffalo Bills.
Harrison knows he's joined a franchise that is quite familiar with elite receiver play, thanks to the achievements of Larry Fitzgerald. Harrison is also aware he'd be making a mistake by trying to replicate Fitzgerald with his own NFL career.
"There will never be another Larry," Harrison told reporters on Wednesday, . "If I could have half the career Larry had that would be great. I try and take it one day at a time and be the best version of myself I can be."
The good news: Harrison only needs to be himself to deliver. The former Buckeye proved himself as an elite talent during his days in Columbus, so much that Arizona couldn't be anything but confident when submitting the card to select him fourth overall in April's draft.
Now all he'll be asked to do is more of the same, but at the pro level. Fortunately for Harrison, he's joined a team featuring a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray. But as Murray noted Wednesday, that excitement will only carry the Cardinals so far. They still need to handle their jobs to validate the optimism.
"I know fans are excited, but at the end of the day I have to go out and do what (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing) calls," Murray said. "I know what type of talent (Marvin) is and I know what he's capable of, but we have to go out there and do it."
Harrison will be expected to produce immediately, even after his abbreviated preseason that saw him go without a reception on three targets.
All of that is irrelevant to the Cardinals, who are confident in their selection of Harrison. Now is when the narrative shifts from projection to production.
In order to achieve this, the plan remains simple: Petzing only wants Harrison to continue being himself within Arizona's offense.
"The physical tools take care of themselves," Petzing said. "I think we saw that in college and we would expect that to continue on this level and so far it has. From a coaching standpoint, it's more, 'Do you know what to do, do you know how we need you to do it, can we move you around the formation to allow you to do all the things you've done in your past?' I think (Harrison) has embraced that."
The spotlight will be on Harrison throughout his rookie season. After playing three years at one of the most prominent collegiate programs in America, Harrison is used to the exposure.
He's embracing the challenge.
"This is what I've been waiting for," Harrison said, "to live out a dream."
