Unlike teammate Wyatt Davis, Munford’s growth wasn’t out of nowhere. Chris Olave, ranked as the No. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave announced on Monday his intentions to return to school for his senior year, thus bypassing the 2021 NFL draft. He still needs to work on his down-to-down accuracy, and his feet can get away from him. Quarterback mobility is becoming more and more vital in the NFL, and Fields has it in spades. CB Patrick Surtain II. With Thanksgiving on the horizon … “I know he didn’t have his best game in the national championship game, but he had a great season and he’s been a really consistent, good player. Moore is an elite offensive weapon who, despite his short stature, is an elite physical specimen. Here are the Top-10 Big-10 prospects you need to know for the 2021 NFL Draft. Earlier in the year, I wrote about the 2021 NFL Draft tight end class, and who the top players to watch are. OSU has quietly produced some of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and Chris Olave will look to be next in line. Continue Reading Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the 2021 NFL Draft’s most refined prospects. He pegged the perimeter playmaker as someone who would “at worst case” be taken in the second round. Highlights from Chris Olave's 2019 sophomore season at Ohio State He routinely forces his way out of the clutches of defenders, and the ball seemingly sticks to his hands. His touch down the field is also hit or miss. Ohio State junior WR Chris Olave caught six passes for 132 yards with two touchdowns in a 49-28 win over Clemson on Friday in the Sugar Bowl. Despite missing the Big Ten Championship Game due to COVID-19, Olave still led the Buckeyes in all three major receiving categories in 2020. If Davis can improve his ability in pass protection in the upcoming season, he should be one of the first interior offensive linemen taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, if Olave were to add some bulk to his frame in the off-season, he gets some more recent favorable comparisons to Tyler Boyd , Nate Burleson , and CeeDee Lamb . The junior receiver made many plays for the Buckeyes on the outside and had a great skill-set that seemed likely to set him up for success at the next level. Chris Olave - WR - Ohio State - 2021 NFL Draft Profile and Stats The news come as a surprise, as Olave … Chris Olave profile page, biographical information, injury history and news There is more than enough pass-catching talent to go around in this class, as teams will likely be able to find potential impact players at the position as late as Day 3. Parsons is the next great Penn State linebacker. 2 in No. Apr 13, 2019; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) and coach Corey Dennis during the first half of the Spring Game at Ohio Stadium. He has to if he hopes to rival Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Chris Olave NFL Draft Profile Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 188 pounds Position: Wide Receiver Munford has soft feet in pass protection and provides strong support in the run game. In 2018, he was named an honorable mention for the Big-10 All-Conference team, and last season, he was named to the second-team. Additionally, the Buckeyes signed five-star Emeka Egbuka, the No. January 8, 2021. There are wide receivers. The Ohio State Buckeyes boasted one of the top offensive lines in the country in 2019, and the emergence of redshirt sophomore Wyatt Davis was a major reason why. While they have a top-two quarterback in this 2021 NFL Draft class in Justin Fields, wide receiver Chris Olave has been a key success for the Buckeyes as well this season. How does your team fare in our latest 3-Round 2021 NFL Mock... After being recognized as the best defensive player in college football, what is Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins' NFL Draft projection? Linebackers in the NFL must be able to play the run, be strong in coverage, and rush the passer. The Big-10 is widely considered the second most talented conference in college football. The comparisons in their respective skill-sets stick out on Olave’s tape. And the NFL Draft is just weeks away. Munford’s ceiling isn’t incredible, but he’s already a strong prospect and should be, at worst, a late second day selection. He’s a dominant blocker who loves to drive defenders into the ground. Chris Olave 2020 Preview By Charlie Campbell Career Recap: The Buckeyes had other good receiving talent with more experience on their roster, but Olave was their most dynamic receiver playmaker during the 2019 season, totaling 849 yards and 12 touchdowns on 49 catches. Fields has elite physical traits at 6’3″, 228, with supreme athletic ability. He also possesses a rocket arm that can make any throw asked of him. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave is one receiver who’s received passing mentions as a first-round 2021 NFL Draft prospect, but nothing more. Pro Football Network, LLC. Quickly compare stats, fantasy rankings and points to find out which player is a better option in your fantasy football league. The left side of OSU’s offensive line made up of Munford and Jonah Jackson was one of the top tackle-guard duos in the nation last year. COLUMBUS — Chris Olave looked like he was just savoring his final moments in an Ohio State uniform. However, if Fields can develop as a passer this season, he could be the best quarterback prospect not named Lawrence in quite some time. The post ESPN’s Todd McShay ‘Surprised’ About Chris Olave’s Draft Decision appeared first on The Spun. We told you that Fields recently ran a 4.41 and might break that barrier leading up to the draft, but it looks like he already has done so at some point in the last two seasons. He believes that comparison to Olave is spot on, as Brian Hartline has detailed to Grayes that he sees a lot of No. Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline is arguably the best receivers coach in the nation, and Olave has flourished under him. He caught 50 passes for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a sleeper to lead the country in receiving yards as Ohio State loses their leading rusher and second, third, fifth, and sixth leading receivers. Once he left the field in South Florida, the star receiver also sounded like somebody who wouldn’t be back with the Buckeyes. Is Olave worthy of the first-round discussion, and if not, what does he have to do to get there? Many viewed Wade as a first-round prospect. Justin Fields has all the necessary tools to be the next star quarterback in the … That tenacity also shows when he has the ball in his hands, as he’s likely to run someone over at all times. He followed that up with 69 yards on eight catches against Alabama. More Posts. Following Sam Darnold being traded to the Carolina Panthers, how does his contract shape up and what salary cap number does each team carry? Here is a 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft as we explore. Currently my pick to be the top defensive player in the 2021 NFL Draft, Micah Parsons is a rare linebacker prospect. Olave filled a similar role that McLaurin once had, leading Ohio State in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season. Freiermuth should already be considered a potential first-round prospect, and with a strong season, he could boost his stock even more. Moore is a perfect player for the way teams want to play football, and if he can stay healthy, he will be a coveted piece. Olave was a potential first-round pick in the draft. He was a big-time point producer and looked like he was just getting started. 7 receiver for the NFL draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., announced Monday that he's returning to Ohio State in 2021, as did defensive end Tyreke Smith. The NFL is moving to an era where versatility is king, and offenses are built on separation and yards after catch. Isaiah Simmons is a coveted draft prospect this season because he provides versatility unlike any other player. Olave himself made that list as well coming in at a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash. Olave lacks the physical stature to be a dominant possession receiver in traffic and his … Many considered Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave to be a likely first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Chris Olave is one of the most underrated draft prospects in the country. NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay raves about Chris Olave. Many will say he is not underrated but I have to disagree. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports, Defensive Points Allowed Consistency Score, Expected Fantasy Points and Fantasy Points Differential. I think Wade has the ability to develop into the top slot cornerback in the NFL. Olave was regarded as a potential late first-round pick by NFL draft prognosticators. Some people on Draft Twitter may disagree with me here, as I was not as infatuated with Shaun Wade as they were. By Clint Buckley Jan 6, 3:19 PM . QB Justin Fields. 0 Comments. A true route technician, Olave has illustrated high levels of football IQ and is the latest product of an Ohio State Buckeyes program that is churning out high-level prospects under the watch of wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. 1 wide receiver in the 2021 class, as well as four-star prospects Jayden Ballard and Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State receiver Chris Olave (2) was one of the most surprising early entry eligible NFL Draft prospects to decide to return to college for 2021. Can he be a first-round pick in the NFL's annual selection event? ESPN’s Todd McShay admitted yesterday that he was one of the people who didn’t think Olave would be back. Olave was the most productive receiver for the Buckeyes last year, and with the departure of seniors KJ Hill, Binjimen Victor, and Austin Mack, expect Olave to see a massive influx of targets. It's April. Expect him to be a major producer for Purdue, and to be one of the top testers in the 2021 Combine. On the move, Fields is a truck that defenders struggle to tackle. Linderbaum’s Iowa teammate Tristan Wirfs is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and you can see Linderbaum taking Wirfs down in a high school wrestling match here. Over the past three seasons, Munford has appeared in 38 games, starting 26 of them. Key Resources. View a side-by-side comparison of Chris Olave and Rondale Moore. Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph is flying up 2021 NFL Draft boards. View expert consensus rankings for Chris Olave (), read the latest news and get detailed fantasy football statistics. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State. The consensus number one player in the 2020 NFL Draft, Chase Young, hails from the conference up north. WR Chris Olave Olave doesn't wow with athleticism or size, but he looks decently fast and is a crafty route runner -- that is the book on most Ohio State receivers of late. Bateman registered 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, the most of any returning Big-10 player. There are running backs. He’s still learning the nuances of playing along the offensive line, as this was his first season playing on the offensive side after he was moved from the defensive side last season. Davis will need to clean up his pass protection if he wants to elevate his draft stock and become a Top-50 selection. It was much more linear. He’s also a strong route runner and a willing blocker. ESPN’s Todd McShay ‘Surprised’ About Chris Olave’s Draft Decision. In the postseason against Clemson and Alabama, Olave … Parsons’ instincts for the position are elite, and he’s a monster in the backfield. Whoever takes over for Justin Fields at quarterback for Ohio State–CJ Stroud, Jack Miller and Kyle McCord will compete for the job–will have a bevy of weapons to throw to at wide receiver. The difference is that while Simmons will likely play his career hovering around 235 pounds, Parsons will be pushing 250. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. He tallied 729 yards and seven receiving touchdowns in seven games for the Buckeyes. Instead, he will head back to Columbus to try and boost his draft stock and win a national title. And there are weapons. Fields isn’t a perfect prospect by any means, though. In the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, Olave exploded for 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. He is a stud with great hands and speed. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the 2021 NFL Draft’s most refined prospects. He has elite size and strong athletic ability, great hands, and he’s dominant in 50-50 situations. This First Team All Big Ten wide receiver is flying up draft boards and more than likely going to be the big riser of the 2021 draft season. Alaric Jackson is the best known Iowa lineman eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft, but he isn’t the best prospect. Over 57% of his targets thrown 10-plus yards beyond the line of scrimmage had two or more steps of separation, which both led the … You’d expect a shorter receiver to struggle in contested catch situations and be taken down once defenders get their hands on them, but Moore struggles with neither. Olave is already a well-refined route runner, thanks to the development system at Ohio State. In addition to Olave, Garrett Wilson is back after a strong sophomore season, and promising freshmen Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming will be one year older. He’s constantly moving people, and last season, he had so many pancakes I thought he worked at IHOP. He was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big-10. Surtain wasn't tested much against the Buckeyes and their top receiver, Chris … Olave was unable to play in the Big Ten championship against Northwestern, and the Ohio State passing game struggled. He displayed elite power at the point of attack, as he and Jonah Jackson formed the best run-blocking guard duo in the nation. Players like Simmons and Parsons can do all these things. In a season where Iowa’s interior offensive line was mostly unimpressive, Linderbaum carried the load and was a consistent and dominant player. Bateman had to share targets with teammate Tyler Johnson, who led the Big-10 in yards and touchdowns. At 5’9″ and 180 pounds, Moore is maybe the most explosive player in college football, who evades tackles at will, and has some of the best hands in the country. He’s already a dominant run defender, but his feet can tend to fall behind in him in his pass sets. How will the Cleveland Browns attack the 2021 NFL Draft? Draft month. Edit; ... and he separates vertically,” McShay said on ESPN’s First Draft podcast. Wade has the ability to play both on the boundary and in the slot, and that versatility will be paramount, both for OSU’s upcoming season and when Wade plays at the next level. Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney is a 2021 NFL Draft weapon. Multiple sources even indicated to Lettermen Row that the coaching staff had already given its […] A true route technician, Olave has illustrated high levels of football IQ and is the latest product of an Ohio State Buckeyes program that is churning out high-level prospects under the watch of … Olave also possesses elite hands and is a strong 50-50 receiver. Earlier in the year, I wrote about the 2021 NFL Draft tight end class, … “I was a little bit surprised that Olave decided to return,” McShay said Tuesday on ESPN’s First Draft podcast. The 2021 NFL Draft class is absolutely loaded with talent at the wide receiver position. Though I did not view Wade as a first-round prospect, I still enjoyed his film and was disappointed when I learned he was returning to school. One of my personal favorite prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, Rashod Bateman is a true alpha receiver. They’ve won more national championships than any other Power-5 conference, and are consistently producing quality NFL talent. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave likely boosted his 2021 NFL Draft stock with his big-time performance in the Sugar Bowl. Sophomore receiver Olave had a breakout year in 2019, separating better than anyone with his speed and route running. Plus, you know you’re losing your quarterback and I know they’ve got the next one up at Oho State, they always do, but to see Olave not on that list was surprising to me.”. Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave’s decision to return for his senior season shocked a lot of people who expected the junior to turn pro. 2021 NFL Draft prospect Chris Olave #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) 2021 NFL Draft: Chris Olave deserves to be considered in the first round Chris Olave deserves 1st-round consideration in the 2021 NFL Draft. Now, he’ll look to prove what he can do as a true #1 receiver. I would like to see him produce a bit more after the catch, but there’s a legitimate chance Olave is a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Justin Fields will look to establish himself as an elite quarterback prospect in 2020. McLaurin averaged 20 yards per catch during his final college season, as … Both on offense and defense, expect the conference to produce multiple first-rounders. What’s a Big-10 list without mentioning an Iowa offensive lineman? Copyright © 2019-2021. So it’s no surprise the Big-10 will be producing more exciting talent in 2021. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. It did anything but struggle on Friday. Tyler Linderbaum was a redshirt freshman last season and was one of the nation’s top centers. He reminds me of Indianapolis’ Kenny Moore. While wide receivers who have a similar frame to Olave, do not typically pan out at the NFL level, there is one comparison that Olave fits the mold of in Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the most underrated players in the NFL Draft. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Suspect in Capitol attack 'intentionally struck' officers: Police. All Rights Reserved. Somewhat surprising on the list was Justin Fields also with a 4.38 time. Rondale Moore is currently my WR1 for 2021, despite missing most of last season to injury. Ohio State receiver Chris Olave announced he will return to the Buckeyes in 2021 rather than enter the NFL Draft. Maybe the most powerful interior blocker I’ve ever watched, Linderbaum has already amassed a career’s worth of highlight blocks. Pat Freiermuth was the first player I listed, and rightfully so, as I believe he is currently the favorite to be TE1 in 2020. We examine the devy potential of Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave. Starting every game on Iowa’s offensive line in just your second season is a very impressive feat. The post ESPN’s Todd McShay ‘Surprised’ About Chris Olave’s Draft Decision appeared first on The Spun. Fresh off a 6 reception, 132 yard, and 2 touchdown performance against #2 ranked Clemson in the All State Sugar Bowl, Chris Olave’s stock is booming. 7 (Grayes' number during a junior season in … Egbuka, the Buckeyes signed five-star Emeka Egbuka, the most of season... Power at the wide receiver Chris Olave is one of my personal prospects! 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