Ohio State Football: What Chris Olave’s return means for 2021

Whoever Ohio State’s starting quarterback may be in 2021, their job just got a bit easier, as WR Chris Olave has announced he will return to the Ohio State football team for his senior season.

Chris Olave has become a household name in Columbus. He made a name for himself on special teams in the 2018 Michigan game and has since then become the Buckeyes #1 WR.

Olave had a phenomenal connection with QB Justin Fields and led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020. Along with Garrett Wilson returning for his junior year, the Buckeyes will return two of the best receivers in all of college football.

Olave, the San Diego native, had 729 yards and seven touchdowns off of 50 receptions in 2020 and averaged an impressive 14.6 yards-per-catch. In 2019, despite two fewer catches than in 2020, Olave recorded 840 yards and 12 touchdowns and averaged a whopping 17.5 yards-per-catch. He has become one of the best deep-ball threats in the country.

Whether Ohio State’s starting QB in 2021 is C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller III, or Kyle McCord, they will have an abundance of weapons to throw to. Now-veteran players Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and TE Jeremy Ruckert will all be options, as will younger receivers such as former five-star Julian Fleming, the speedy and always-dangerous Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Gee Scott Jr.

While Olave and Wilson will likely get the majority of the receptions, the three previously mentioned soon-to-be-sophomores will surely see a good deal of playing time and will compete for the third receiver spot.

This does provide to be an issue for whoever is not seeing the field. Mookie Cooper has already transferred to Missouri, and other players may explore that option following spring ball, depending on where they stand on the depth chart.

Jameson Williams will be back for his junior year, and will certainly compete for that third receiver spot. Fellow-junior WR Kamryn Babb will be in the mix as well but will have to climb his way up the depth chart.

Head Coach Ryan Day and WR Coach Brian Hartline certainly will have some tough decisions to make as to who fits in where. Wilson made the move to slot WR in 2020, but the possibility is always there that he could move back outside, as he is incredibly versatile and can play anywhere on the field. The will be no shortage of weapons at the disposal of Ohio State’s QB in 2021, definitely a good problem to have.

The Ohio State football program had a really good day today. More are in the future in 2021.