Brian Hartline Offers Enigmatic Response To Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Availability For Cotton Bowl.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are preparing for their Cotton Bowl matchup with the SEC’s Missouri Tigers on Friday. As the Tigers gameplan, they still don’t know if they’ll be asked to defend against Heisman finalist wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.

It’s long been thought that Buckeyes standout wide receiver Harrison would opt out and make himself unavailable for the Cotton Bowl as he prepares for the NFL Draft. But Harrison traveled with the team to Texas, giving the appearance he might play.

Now, Harrison didn’t practice with the team on Tuesday or Wednesday, furthering the speculation that he won’t play. And the Bucks’ coaching staff isn’t helping clear things up.

“How do you know Marvin’s not playing? I don’t know, I guess we’ll just have to find out on Friday,” Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said while grinning. “Coach [Ryan] Day can hit on that when you guys ask.”

One reporter noted that Harrison looked “tortured” while he was sitting on the sideline watching his teammates practice. Hartline cleared that up.

“Any rep that he doesn’t take, he is frustrated and always wanting to be out there on every rep,” Hartline said. “It is my job to make sure he doesn’t expose himself to any rep he does not need, but as far as how much playing time and all that, I’m sure Coach Day can iron that out for you guys. But Marv’s ready to roll if you ask him.”

Then, to further muddle the situation, Hartline said other guys might get an opportunity against Missouri.

“I’m excited to see some of these guys get different opportunities that maybe they haven’t gotten through the year.”

It looks like we’ll all find out at the same time when the Buckeyes and Tigers kick off on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.