2022 Rookie Class: An Early Look at Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
While overshadowed during the 2021 season by teammates Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and TreVeyon Henderson, Chris Olave was the glue of the Ohio State aerial attack for the better part of three seasons. After declaring for the NFL Draft, the former Buckeye looks to fill a similar role for a professional football franchise and most importantly, your dynasty squad.
AS A RECRUIT
Ranking by 24/7 Sports.
A three-star prospect coming out of Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California, Olave was ruled ineligible for his junior year and had zero scholarship offers heading into his senior season. In fact, how he ended up at Ohio State was by complete happenstance.
Then offensive coordinator (now head coach) Ryan Day was at Mission Hills scouting quarterback Jack Tuttle when Olave caught his eye. After learning more about his story, the Buckeye coaching staff was impressed by the wide receiver’s work ethic and dedication to his team that junior season despite being ineligible to play.
Ohio State offered the California receiving prospect a scholarship in October of 2017 and held off a late push from hometown UCLA to secure his commitment in January 2018. Olave didn’t arrive in Columbus with much fanfare as he was the 68th-ranked WR and 399th overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.
COLLEGIATE CAREER
Statistics via Sports Reference.
Entering the regular-season finale against archrival Michigan, Olave’s inaugural campaign at Ohio State was prototypical for a true freshman. Buried on a wide receiver depth chart behind Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, KJ Hill, Johnnie Dixon, Binjimen Victor, and Austin Mack; the first-year wideout’s contributions were mostly limited to special teams with minimal offensive opportunities (five catches for 70 yards).
A season-ending injury to Mack opened the door for 18-year-old Olave as the tenth-ranked Buckeyes were all that stood between Michigan and the Big Ten Championship game.
What did Olave do with his chance…?
Scoring the first two touchdowns of the game was impressive enough, but the punt block was even more special as it changed the momentum in the entire game. The Buckeye freshman followed up his coming-out party against the maize and blue with a great performance against Northwestern (5-79-1) in the 2018 Big Ten Championship game. Heading into 2019, the sky was the limit for Olave as Campbell, McLaurin, and Dixon all departed Columbus for the NFL.
The sophomore did not disappoint, hauling in 48 receptions for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the team in the latter two categories. Olave became the go-to receiver for transfer quarterback Justin Fields, whether it was to stretch the field or gain a crucial first down. From an analytical perspective, he had a 23.2% market share, 18.1% of the team’s receptions, and 22.2% of their fantasy points.
In what many thought would be his final collegiate season, the Buckeye wideout shined during a pandemic shortened 2020 season. He was on pace for 85 receptions, 1,249 yards, and 12 touchdowns while owning a 34.7% market share of the aerial attack. Olave’s steadiness and reliability could not be overstated as the passing offense struggled in the Big Ten Championship game against Northwestern in his absence.
The Buckeye wideout surprised many when announcing he would return for his senior season, which was sort of a mixed bag. While still uber-productive amid setting the school record for career receiving touchdowns (35), Olave saw his role in the offense somewhat diminished due to the breakout season of sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
ATHLETIC PROFILE
Master Teague is really fast according to Chris Olave’s Instagram story #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/CswM4aX35e
— THE Bunch of Nuts Podcast (@bunch_nuts) March 23, 2021
These 40 times are unofficial as they’re from the Ohio State athletic complex and should be taken with a grain of salt. Yet, if the Columbus product can run a sub 4.4 at the combine and/or his pro day, it could mean the difference between a mid-first, late-first, or even second-round selection in this loaded wide receiver class.
Speed is such a crucial part of Olave’s game because at 6’0, 188 lbs he has more of a slender frame than your prototypical NFL wideout. This will likely limit his ceiling at the next level.
STRENGTHS
- Route-running tactician
- Uses strong release, explosiveness, and agility to beat defenders deep- a big play waiting to happen
- Finding open space in zone coverage
- Shows great balance and body control near the sidelines
- Improvisation ability to get open for his quarterback when play breaks down.
- Strong, reliable hands
WEAKNESSES
- If he’s not running away from defenders, he isn’t breaking tackles at the point of contact
- Is a willing blocker, but smaller build puts him at a disadvantage
- Again, shorter stature hurts his ability to win contested catches
DRAFT VALUE
Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database.
While some draft prognosticators have Olave being selected in the top 15 as the first wide receiver off the board. The general consensus has the Buckeye alum going in the late first round after teammate Garrett Wilson, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, and Alabama playmaker Jameson Williams.
DYNASTY OUTLOOK
In the early DLF 2022 rookie rankings, Olave is ninth overall rated player and sixth at his position; behind Burks, Wilson, Drake London, Williams, and David Bell but ahead of Jahan Dotson and George Pickens. Olave’s ceiling is much lower than Burks, Wilson, and London. However, this does not mean he can’t be a valuable dynasty asset.
No matter the landing spot, Olave has the football IQ and receiving pedigree to be an immediate contributor in any offensive scheme. Of course, the higher the draft capital the better the dynasty value. While not as flashy, Olave has the makings of a wide receiver who will have a long, productive career in the league. In fantasy terms, read a reliable, consistent weekly WR2 found on most championship dynasty rosters. You should be able to acquire his services later in the first round of rookie drafts where many of the on the brink of contention pick.
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