WR Rankings: A Closer Look At #1 WR Chris Olave

With the off-season upon us we will be removing the players that have moved on to the NFL from our player rankings and re-ranking for the 2021 season. Before we jump into Chris Olave being ranked number one, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football WR Rankings here.

Ohio State wide receiver, Chris Olave holds the top spot in our rankings to start the 2021 season after finishing the 2020 season in the fifth spot. His main competition in the rankings comes from teammate Garrett Wilson, who is also an excellent receiver. Olave got the nod because of his longer track record of consistent performance and his spectacular play in the playoff for the Buckeyes. He became an impact player as a freshman and has continued to elevate his play every year.

Trending Up Year After Year

As a true freshman, Chris Olave worked his way into a crowded receiver rotation later in the year. He caught two touchdown passes against Michigan and had a 5 catch 79 yard game against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game. He closed strong, but finished they year with 12 catches for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns. The flashes of ability he showed in 2018, set the stage for a big sophomore season for Olave.

In 2019, Olave continued to play his part in a deep rotation for Ohio State, but was clearly a key option in the passing game. Olave was a steady receiver throughout the season catching a touchdown in 9 of 14 games. He finished his second season in Columbus with 49 catches for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns, but had a bad taste in his mouth because of the way it ended. Olave and Justin Fields were not on the same page and the receiver ran the wrong route resulting in an interception that ended the Buckeyes hopes of winning the semifinal game against Clemson.

In 2020, the season may have been shorter, but Olave was even better. He caught at least five passes in all seven games he played and went over 100 yards in five of the seven games. Olave came up big in the semifinal win against Clemson, catching 6 passes for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns and redeeming himself for the miscue in 2019. Olave’s value was evident as much in the one game he did not play as it was in the seven he did. He missed the Northwestern game and the team struggled to pass the football, totaling a season low 114 passing yards. Olave finished his spectacular 2020 season with 50 catches for 729 yards and 7 touchdowns in just seven games.

Olave’s Skill Set

Chris Olave is a smooth receiver who is difficult for defenders to read. He is a patient and technically sound route runner, who allows the play to develop, making his breaks on time and creating separation with his pace through his routes. He has a good blend of speed, burst and agility that allows him to minimize wasted motion and create separation easily on his routes. Olave is impossible cover one on one because he makes all of his routes look similar and is too quick and smooth in and out of his breaks.

Olave is not just a technically sound receiver who gets open underneath. He also has the ability to turn on the speed and get behind the defense for big plays. He has the speed and acceleration to quickly get past defenders and hit big plays over the top of the defense. Olave is excellent tracking the deep ball, taking efficient paths to the football and accelerating through the end of the catch to create separation just before he catches the ball. He is a home run threat on every play.

Though Olave is not particularly tall or thick he has the hands, concentration and ball skills to make plays in contested situations. He catches the ball very naturally, plucking it out of the air rather than letting it get into his body. Olave times his leaps well, waits for the last minute to show his hands and uses his body to shield the football when the defender is behind him. He wins jump balls and makes catches in coverage consistently, making him a reliable target when the offense needs a conversion.

Chris Olave has the athleticism, hands and intelligence to beat the defense on every possible route. He is a smooth athlete who is deceptively fast and sudden in and out of his breaks. Olave has the speed to stretch the defense, but is an excellent route runner who can beat the defense in the intermediate passing game as well. He may not be a big player, but he is a willing blocker who is effective on the perimeter. Olave is reliable and consistent, he runs every route well and finishes the play every time. This makes it easy for his quarterback to trust him in a tough spot.

How High Can He Go In 2021

Ohio State will break in a new quarterback and running back in 2021, but the receiver position is loaded and both starting tackles are back. Olave and Wilson will lead a receiver room that is full of talented youngsters waiting to get there chance. The Buckeyes will have to pick a new starting quarterback, but they have three highly touted youngsters on the roster to choose from. Having a receiver group this talented should help the new quarterback develop quickly.

Chris Olave has improved his game significantly each year, but after averaging over 100 yards and a touchdown per game in 2020 it’s fair to wonder if Olave can be even better in 2021. He has an excellent work ethic and has become a leader in the receiver room and that role should expand to the rest of the team in 2021. With that in mind, there’s no reason to think Olave cannot continue his upward trajectory in 2021 for what should a fantastic final season in Columbus.

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