NFL Draft Profile: Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State Buckeyes

NFL draft profile scouting report for Ohio State wide receiver, Chris Olave

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#2
Pos: WR
Ht: 6003
Wt: 187
Hand: 0948
Arm: 3118
Wing: 7318
40: 4.39
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 32"
Broad: 10'04"
DOB: 9/18/99
Eligible: 2022
San Marcos, CA
Mission Hills

Chris Olave
Ohio State Buckeyes

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One-Liners

Chris Olave is a reliable number two option for an offense who can be tasked with being a vertical field stretcher on the outside. 

Pros:

Olave constantly threatens secondaries with his speed. Defenders always have to stay on their toes from the snap of the ball and leave cushion which opens up a lot for Olave’s overall game. He times the snap well and has quick burst off the line to get upfield and into his route. He can go from complete sprint to stopping on the dime to come back to the ball. Even though his frame is thinner, he demonstrates excellent effort when tasked with run blocking. Displays control of his body during the process of running his routes, as well as at the catch point to control himself in the air. As a route runner, he has the speed, footwork and quickness to make himself an elite route runner especially against zone coverage. Olave remains a threat after the catch because of his short-area quickness and long speed. He can shift his body laterally with such agility and suddenness that catches defenders off guard and leaves them stuck in the mud. Possesses strong hands that is able to pluck the ball out of the air or safely secure close to the sidelines. Contributes on punt coverage special teams as a gunner. 

Cons:

The Ohio State receiver struggles against press-man coverage consistently because of his lack of physicality at the line of scrimmage. He relies on hesitation moves, which can work but he will need to further evolve his release package to make it more multi-dimensional and effective against physical corners. Olave shows some apprehensiveness in traffic when he knows he is about to take a hit. His arms aren’t that long which limits his catch radius. 

Summary:

Chris Olave has been a mainstay in the Ohio State receiver room ever since his true freshman season. Playing with elite talent alongside of him, Olave hasn’t failed to shine on his own. He wows with elite burst, quickness and speed. Possessing that type of speed, he can stretch the field on the outside or threaten the middle of the field with the ability to extend plays after the catch. He has all the ability in the world to make a solid compliment receiver. He may struggle to be a bonafide first option because of his lack of physicality and length. There is no doubt he will make an impact at the next level. 

Background:

Born on June 27th, 2000, Chris Olave attended Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California as a freshman and sophomore. He transferred to Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California as a junior, but was required to sit out. Mission Hills High School is a top school in the San Diego section of California, an area that consistently produces elite football players. Olave was a multisport athlete in football, track, basketball, and baseball. He exploded his senior year, catching 93 passes for 1,764 yards and 26 touchdowns. Olave was rated a three-star prospect in the 2018 class, per the 247Sports Composite, though the 247Sports site itself rated him as a four-star prospect. He received offers from multiple top-tier colleges and eventually committed to Ohio State. Olave played sparingly as a freshman, making 12 catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns across seven games. He broke out as a sophomore, generating 48 receptions for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. In a COVID-shortened junior season, Olave continued to impress, collecting 50 receptions for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. Though eligible, he declined to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft and chose to return for his senior year. The gamble paid off with Olave turning in his best college season, bringing in 65 catches for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. His senior-season performance earned him First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Olave opted out of the 2021 Rose Bowl to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Given his high school pedigree, recruiting profile, and solid production at one of the best college programs in the country, Olave is expected to be a first-round selection.

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Floor/Ceiling: Average WR2 / Above-Average WR2

Scheme Fit: Boundary Receiver

Grade: Late 1st Round

Injury History: Suffered a head injury in 2020.

Character Notes: N/A

2022 Chris Olave Fantasy Football Overview:

Alabama and LSU have produced several first-round wide receivers in recent years. Ohio State could take the mantle as the next “wide receiver U” if Chris Olave is the school’s second receiver selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 21-year old is a smooth route-runner with speed to beat defenders deep. In addition to excellent hands, Olave’s six-foot-one 189-pounds gives him the size and athleticism to win contested catches. The four-star prospect finished his career with 175 receptions, 2,702 yards, and 35 touchdowns as part of college football's most talented receiver group.

2022 Chris Olave Draft Strategy:

The 2022 draft is deep at receiver, resulting in Olave falling to the end of the first round, or early second round, in rookie drafts. There could be as many as four quarterbacks, three running backs, and three to five receivers taken before Olave, making him a great value after the tenth pick. He has the talent to be a wide receiver one but is likely a wide receiver two that will be a regular starter in dynasty lineups for years.

Best Case Scenario:

It would be near-perfect for Olave to fall to a good team near the end of round one. Several good franchises with high-volume passing attacks could use a talented pass-catcher. Arizona, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Green Bay are perfect landing spots for the former Buckeye. All have great quarterbacks and a good number one receiver, allowing Olave to slide in as the number two and start early in his career.

Worst Case Scenario:

The least favorable scenario is to see Olave fall to the early second round and a team without an established quarterback. Houston and the Giants are two teams with early second-round picks and would decrease the value of a rookie receiver. Both teams have a huge question mark at quarterback and rank in the bottom ten in passing.

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-Olave's best attribute is his ability to make plays over the top of the defense. His presence is felt in every game I studied, and he opens up the field for his teammates. That being said, he isn't a one-trick pony. He is just as effective running comebacks and curls as he is on posts and go routes. He's a home run hitter who's also capable of winning on third down in the middle of the field. That's a special combination. (NFL.com) (06/20/21)

11/22/21 - In his final game at the Horseshoe, Ohio State wideout Chris Olave proved why he is one of the best receivers in the country. Contributing seven receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns during the Buckeyes 56-7 rout of Michigan State, Olave made sure to put NFL scouts on notice. His second score was the 35th touchdown of his career, breaking the Buckeyes all-time school record, previously held by David Boston. It is safe to say that the one-time three-star recruit has exceeded expectations during his time in Columbus. The San Diego native has now surpassed 700 receiving yards for three consecutive seasons, while sharing the field with multiple future NFL wideouts. An excellent ball tracker, he will look to continue his downfield success at the next level in 2022. But first, Olave has plans to bring home ‘The Natty!’

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