Seems it’s all coming at once now. After hearing little about which players might potentially opt out of the Rose Bowl, the first domino fell with Garrett Wilson’s decision. But that’s not all, we now know that his fellow star wide receiver, Chris Olave, will also now be opting out of the Rose Bowl as well according to comments made by head coach Ryan Day on Monday.
Olave came to Ohio State as a very under-the-radar wide receiver prospect out of Southern California but burst onto the scene during the Michigan game his freshman year. From there he took off to become one of the best wide receivers in the country, becoming a first-team All-Big selection in 2021. He is projected by many to be a first-round draft pick so he’s obviously made the decision to protect his health and financial future by not taking a risk of injury.
This fall, Olave caught 65 passes for 936 yards and a team-leading 13 touchdowns. He is originally from Southern California, so there was a thought that he would finish up his career near home, but that will not be the case.
And before you get too upset at Olave, remember that he elected to return to Ohio State for one more season when he could have gone pro at the end of last year.
Olave will finish his career as Ohio State’s all-time touchdown receptions leader, surpassing David Boston in a game against Michigan State this fall. He also finishes sixth overall in career receiving yards with 2,711, and is third all-time in catches behind only K.J. Hill (201) and David Boston (191).
There is no doubt that Olave will be missed. From his smooth route running, to his top-end speed, to his demeanor on and off the field, he will be one of the all-time greats at the position.
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