Oregon is making a splash in the college football rankings following an epic win over Ohio State.
The battle between two high-ranked, unbeaten programs went down to the wire before the Ducks secured a 32-31 victory. The offensive line at 6-0 Oregon has steadily improved throughout the season, and offensive lineman Marcus Harper II remains a rock.
Last season, the 6-foot-3 Illinois native played 749 snaps at left guard, allowing zero sacks and just six total pressures in 432 total pass-blocking opportunities in 2023. Harper has continued his form in 2024, and it should come as no surprise after the 22-year-old made the tough call to not enter the 2024 NFL Draft to stay in college football for one final season to boost his stock.
Driven by the desire to be the best, Harper put in the work this offseason under the tutelage of former first-round pick Rex Hadnot. He dropped down in weight, improved his agility and twitchiness while maintaining his bruising strength. He knows he made the right decision.
“I wasn't happy with the draft grade that I was getting last year - and I know I'm a star,” Harper exclusively told Mirror US Sport. “I know I'm a superstar, so I needed to come back, refine some things, and fix up some small, final details before I can finally put all my chips on the table and cash out to get the return value I know I'm capable of producing. We had a hell of a team last year too, so I was like, ‘why not just run it back on my time with these guys?’”
The decision has paid dividends so far. Following the dramatic win over Ohio State, Oregon has moved to 6-0 and is ranked No. 2 in the nation. The offensive line is keeping quarterback Dillon Harper upright, and the offense is thriving as the season unfolds.
“I feel phenomenal,” Harper said. “Going into this season, I honestly knew where a lot of my weaknesses lie, and getting that fixed up feels great. I feel very calm, peaceful, and focused on my last dance - my last college dance, I should say. I’m excited to end it the way I want, and I'm happy I'm with the right team on the biggest stage. I'm just happy I get to have the opportunity to go showcase what I know I'm capable of.”
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While fans and media members fawn over the quarterback, defensive end, or other skill positions, Harper insisted offensive linemen are oft forgotten when comparing athleticism - the “foundation” of his game. He added: “I think a lot of people give offensive lineman a bad rap. We're just like the cornerbacks, just like the receivers, just like the defensive backs.
“I’ve always understood that athleticism is my base, my foundation, how I get down, how I go about things. So it was just always just about maintaining strength. Obviously, I have a great team at Oregon. I have a great personal team who went about putting a plan together.”
While he has one eye on the 2025 NFL Draft, Harper is also thinking about the future. In collaboration with Sports Illustrated, Harper - who is in his fifth season at Oregon, which is uncommon in the transfer portal era - stars in “The Big Mark Show”, which he hopes can shine a light on himself and his Oregon teammates.
“Obviously, I know I'm a big personality that I can showcase on camera very well and articulate myself,” Harper declared. “I always thought that the opportunity would be available for me at the next level, but never in 1000 years did I imagine I’d get the opportunity to collaborate with Sports Illustrated in my last year of college. But a couple of phone calls were made, and then “The Big Mark Show” kind of got started up.
“Just an inside look behind the scenes look of the Oregon Ducks for the 2024 season, looking at our different players, transfer portal players, guys who have been here for a while. What we look for, what our perspective is, insight into the players and their journeys as a few of us go into our last year.
“This is a great way for me to continue to just put my name out there and put a face to their name, understanding the value that I bring to this team, both on and off the field, and just that great vibe I bring a locker room too.”
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