Anyone that watched Ohio State play Michigan this past season may have been a little surprised by freshman wide-receiver Chris Olave’s breakout game on the biggest possible stage.
But for the OSU coaches and players, it came as no surprise. Olave had begun to separate himself with his hard work and playmaking skills as the season wore on, and it earned him more and more playing time. Then, he had a fantastic matchup against against a Michigan secondary that played man-to-man in space and it all came together.
ESPN has apparently taken notice. The sports media giant did a piece on each top 25 team’s breakout sophomore player for this fall, and Olave was the choice for the Buckeyes.
Here’s what Dan Murphy of ESPN had to say about the kid from San Diego:
Those who watched last season’s Michigan game got a good preview of what Olave can do for the Buckeyes. His two touchdowns gave him a taste of success heading into 2019, a year in which Ohio State has to replace most of its starting receivers.
There is no doubt that fans and coaches alike should be expecting a more confident and explosive Chris Olave as he inserts more into the gameplan in 2019. Just how much remains to be seen, but he’s got all the tools and personality to make a splash, just like ESPN predicts.
