(Birm/Lettermen Row). Another reason why Olave chose to stay at Ohio State for another year, much like fellow NFL prospect Thayer Munford, was to graduate from the university. “When you’re as good as Chris, you think those dudes get gone,” Wilson said. But Olave returned for another shot at a national title and another year to develop. With a strong senior season, though, he’ll have a chance to truly cement his place in the record books as one of Ohio State’s all-time greats. Chris Olave is working on improving his strength in his senior season with the Buckeyes. “It was fun,” Olave said last week. “I feel like I could have gotten a lot stronger in the weight room, try to play with more strength. If there’s one area of his game that can be criticized, it’s that he can be outmuscled by defenders at times and has had some issues holding on to the ball, as he had four fumbles last season, two of which were taken away by the other team. So there’s a lot to work on. Getting stronger has been a particular point of emphasis this offseason for Olave, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds on Ohio State’s roster. He’s the oldest in the room, look out for everybody, make sure everybody’s doing good,” Williams said. “I’m a competitor, so after that national championship, I had a terrible feeling in my stomach,” Olave said. Apr 22, 2021. He didn’t drop any passes. Olave put his own off until next year. “We have a year of a deficiency, in my opinion, across the board of development. Gee Scott Jr. #13. “I just didn’t want to leave college like that. Recruiting. Fresh cotton and other wares at Eleven Warriors Dry Goods. “I feel like I needed to work on some things,” Olave said last week. “So I came back to try to get in the weight room more, get a lot stronger. And try to be NFL-ready Week 1 when I get to that.”. We just are. Olave put his own off until next year. Roster. Instead, Olave chose to play one more season … “I feel like I needed to work on some things so I came back to get in the weight room more and get a lot stronger, turn into a more complete receiver so I can be ready Week One when I go to the NFL,” Olave said. And instead of opting to go to the NFL after three brilliant seasons at Ohio State, Olave chose to return for one more year and one more chance to get better before making the leap to pro football. And at this time next year, Chris Olave will be turning heads at Ohio State Pro Day yet again. Olave, however, wasn’t satisfied with what he has accomplished at Ohio State yet. Since bursting onto the scene in 2018 with his two-touchdown performance against Michigan, Olave has done nothing but produce. By Andrew Lind. But I wanted to come back, work with Coach Mick another year, compete against Garrett (Wilson) and Jameson (Williams) in the offseason. Chris is just big bro to everybody. He already ranks sixth in school history in receiving touchdowns (22) and 16th in both receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,775), and he’ll long be remembered by Buckeye fans for the clutch plays he’s already made throughout his career, starting with his two receiving touchdowns and blocked punt as a freshman against Michigan in 2018. You may remember, Harrison, the son of former NFL standout Marvin Harrison, was the first freshman to lose his black stripe earlier in the spring. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave is still working to improve. But Wilson and the rest of the Buckeyes are certainly happy to have him back. Had he entered the 2021 NFL draft, which many people anticipated, he would have had a decent chance of being selected in next Thursday’s first round. Instead of making it his own showcase, Olave was just catching passes for former Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields. Career Stats. Even during his time in high school when he was discovered by the Buckeyes after they watched a throwing session with Olave’s high school quarterback, he was constantly working to become a better player. Odds are he’ll look even better, too. But it didn’t matter how good he looked at Ohio State Pro Day. He showed how good he can be at the next level. “That’s one reason why I came back. Recruiting. Last year, Olave said he never considered opting out of the 2020 season because of how the 2019 season ended, as his route-running mistake led to a game-sealing interception in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff loss to Clemson. Scores. It was fun going out there and trying to make him look good.”. … There’s nobody above getting better in those areas. There’s 10-to-12-year vets in the NFL that need to improve in different areas. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State football program has had plenty of success in Texas over the past five years, but seldom has that been in recruiting defensive linemen. Try to play with more strength,” Olave said. Chris Olave would be one week away from being selected in the NFL draft. 82 overall player in the … 11 pick in the 2021 NFL draft to select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. “To finally get out there and run routes in front of scouts and just run routes with all my teammates, especially catch balls from Justin [Fields]? 1 Chris Olave Film 2015 & 2016; 2 Ohio State's Ryan Day on having Jeremy Ruckert, Chris Olave back for 2021; 3 Takeaways From the CFP Title Game's Top Prospects Eleven Warriors is where Ohio State fans gather. In his eyes, he needed yet another year of torching Big Ten defensive backs to become a better player. “So it was great seeing Chris come back to play his senior year at Ohio State.”. Olave could have been a first- or second-round pick and one of the first wide receivers off the board if he declared for the NFL Draft. Coach Hartline is one of the best coaches in the country. Another former top-100 prospect is leaving Ohio State's receivers room. The coaching staff hauled in the country’s top receiver from 2020 and 2021 according to the 247Sports composite. (If you're upset that the two wideouts on this list are both from Ohio State, surely you've learned by now that it's the Buckeyes' world, and we're just living in it). Blocking is huge. Last week has been great, but one thing that’s for sure is we’ve got lightyears to go. … The more we can play, the better off we’re going to be. He avenged that loss last year by catching six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ 49-28 semifinal win over Clemson, but he wants to finish his career by winning a national title. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Turn into a complete receiver. “And just being a part of the program, I feel like is huge. Now as a superstar and one of the best receivers in the country, Olave’s first-round draft grade wasn’t good enough for him. Chris Olave put off the NFL to come back for his senior season of Ohio State football because he had "unfinished business" in his personal development and team success. Yet he still chose to come back to Ohio State. Given all that he has already accomplished, Olave caught many by surprise – including Ohio State’s other star receiver, Garrett Wilson – when he announced on Jan. 18 that he would be back for another year. Even if Olave had entered this year’s draft, he would have left Ohio State as one of its best receivers ever. A lot of guys in Zone 6, and I feel like I could get better and be better myself more as a person.”. Schedule. Three-star 2022 defensive back Kye Stokes commits to Ohio State. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both hauled in very long completions and they continue to lead the room. [Position] Coach [Brian Hartline] has made that clear with the different emphasis areas. “He is an excellent person, an excellent big brother, an excellent everything. “So I was surprised, but whenever he had told me, I knew that we were going to be back, hopefully right back where we were last year with a chance to compete for everything we want. Chris Olave will lead a loaded group of wide receivers at Ohio State. Olave’s decision was also fueled by what happened in the national championship game, where the Buckeyes lost 52-24 to Alabama. After completing a couple of long throws to Chris Olave and true freshman Emeka Egbuka, Stroud found Marvin Harrison Jr. in the back of the endzone on a slant for the first touchdown of the spring game. As an independent site, we're committed to delivering Buckeye fans the news and analysis they deserve, all while remaining free. [Olave and fellow wide receiver Garrett Wilson] are two guys who have played a lot of football here but still need a lot of improvement in different areas. So we’ll just keep challenging them to get better.”, Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave has more he wants to accomplish in college. He has 110 catches for 1,766 yards and 22 touchdowns — in just 27 career games. Chris Olave #2. COLUMBUS — Ohio State receiver Chris Olave had his first audition in front of pro scouts last month. It’s no secret the wide receiver group for the Buckeyes is stacked. There’s a lot of guys in Zone Six that I feel like I could get better and be better myself, more as a person. “There’s a lot of reasons I came back,” Olave said. “That’s one of the flaws I had in my game last year. ... Ohio State Reveals Summer Recruiting Camp Schedule. Rankings. Only next time, it’ll be his own Pro Day. I wanted to come back and work with [strength] Coach Mick [Marotti] another year, compete against Garrett and Jameson [Williams] in the offseason. He didn’t drop any passes. One somewhat surprising returner is wideout Chris Olave, who could have been a Day 2 pick in 2021. 1 receiver recruit nationally in 2021, to a group that already included Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and three receivers ranked in the top 10 nationally in … And he believes another year with the Buckeyes will make him more prepared next year when he actually does begin his NFL career. How the Greatest Recruiting Rankings Debate Ever Set the Stage for the 2021 NFL Draft. So we expect to have one of the best rooms in the country, and having Chris back, that’s going to be a huge part of that.”, RELATED Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Prime Position to Start in Slot for Ohio State with Garrett Wilson Moving Outside. He showed how good he can be at the next level. And growing up dreaming, I always wanted to win a national championship, I always wanted to do everything in college and go to the NFL, so I felt like we had unfinished business. Just another year in the system, and I feel like I’ll be good.”. NCAA Football Quick Links. Ryan Pace is making another big swing at quarterback. There have been 18 Texans to come to Columbus, and the defensive line is the only position group to not get one. ... it hurt”—but he also threw this 56-yard picture-perfect bomb to Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave: He looked crisp in and out of his breaks on routes. That’s one of the flaws I had in my game last year. “Playing on edges, being more physical, attention to detail and route-running, finishing plays with the ball, spacing out routes in zone, there’s a lot of areas there. The … (Birm/Lettermen Row). Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: Chris Olave WR: San Marcos, California: Mission Hills High School: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jan 28, 2018 Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: Nicholas Petit-Frere OT: Tampa, Florida: Berkeley Preparatory School: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) We’re playing catch-up right now. See All. In addition, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are still making plays with numerous other top 15 receivers in the mix. Once he enrolled at Ohio State, the work truly began. After last season ended with a national championship game loss, Chris Olave wanted another shot to finish his career with a title. Chris Olave is the other. He believes another year in the weight room with Mickey Marotti and his staff, though, will enable him to play with the strength he’ll need to maximize his potential in the NFL. I feel like I could have gotten a lot stronger in the weight room. The Chicago Bears traded up to the No. “Both my brothers have their degree, so I wanted to get that,” Olave said. He averaged more than 100 yards per game in his junior campaign, solidifying himself as one of the country’s premier receivers. Jameson Williams is also happy Olave is back, as he said Olave makes everyone around him better. He looked crisp in and out of his breaks on routes. Jameson Williams, the No. Having already led Ohio State in receiving for each of the past two seasons, Olave has already established himself as a prospect clearly possessing the ability to play at the next level. Why Chris Olave put off the NFL and came back for his senior season Receivers are trusting, and helping, the QB competition this spring What an end to the recruiting … I believe in the quarterback play, I believe in Coach Day, I believe in the program so I wanted to do another year to try to win a national championship and try to do all those things.”. 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