Tag: Chris Olave

Ohio State football 2020 receiving corps will is going to be ridiculously good

The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a reenergized roster this coming season, led by what could easily be the nation’s best receiving corps.

The Ohio State football team will lose critical pieces of their team to the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins and Jeff Okudah will all be leaving after their junior season.

However, Ohio State is losing more than just those three. Seniors like K.J. Hill, the university’s all-time receptions leader, and Binjimen Victor will be leaving, potentially continuing their career in the NFL.

The absence of those two will deplete the team’s receiving corps.

Justin Fields shouldn’t worry though.

He’ll be getting all the help he needs in the form of an upgraded Garrett Wilson, experienced Chris Olave, and extremely talented inbound receiving class.

Wilson was the No. 2 receiver in the Class of 2019. Julian Fleming is the No. 1 receiver in the Class of 2020. Aside from Fleming, Ohio State is bringing in the fifth-best and tenth-best receivers in the class according to 247Sports.

The key to unlocking Wilson, Fleming, Gee Scott Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Chris Olave. Olave accounted for 12 touchdowns and 840 yards last season. He’ll get a lot of attention from opposing defenses in 2020.

While he may remember the 2019 season for the heartbreak in the College Football Playoff semifinal Fiesta Bowl, there’s no denying that he’ll be the unanimous leader of the nation’s most talent receiving corp in 2020.

Those five receivers will take this offense to a new level, hopefully, one we’ve yet to see at the collegiate level in a long, long time.

 

Is Ohio State football becoming wide-receiver U?

Ohio State has been known for being a run-heavy team throughout its history, but is it now becoming Wide Receiver U?

It’s been well documented that Ohio State has been laying claim as “DBU” for churning out NFL defensive backs throughout history. The Bucks may start claiming the title of “Wide Receiver U” before too long.

Ohio State was a little late to the passing game as Buckeye Legend Woody Hayes famously said: “There are only three things can happen on a pass, and two of them are bad.” But Ohio State would start to evolve with names like Chris Carter, Terry Glenn, and David Boston in the 80’s and 90’s.

However, you might be surprised to know that since the 2000 NFL draft, Ohio State has had more receivers drafted than any other college program. It’ll no doubt add to that total with guys like KJ Hill and Austin Mack this coming April.

It seems now, Columbus is the place to be for highly-touted receivers to land. The 2020 recruiting class lays claim to the No. 1, No. 5, No. 12, and No. 15 ranked receivers in the nation (Julian Flemming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gee Scott, Jr., and Mookie Cooper). Add this class to what was a strong 2019 receiving class led by the No. 2 nationally-ranked receiver, Garrett Wilson, and there is something special in the making.

Speaking of Garrett Wilson, he and fellow Buckeye Wideout, Chris Olave just made the Pro Football Focus list of top 25 receivers returning to college football in 2020.  Wilson comes in at No. 24 and Olave makes the ranking at No. 10.

Brian Hartline is doing work not only bringing in top-level talent, but developing that talent as well. And we’re excited to see what this explosive group can do going forward.

Ohio State football’s top ten players looking ahead to 2020

The 2019 season is done, but we’re looking way ahead to 2020. Here’s Ohio State football’s top ten players for next season.

Are you over the Fiesta Bowl yet? Don’t worry, all in good time.

The 2019 Ohio State football season may be over now, but we’re always looking ahead. We now know more-or-less who will be available for this team in 2020, so we’re taking a stab at ranking the top ten players for the Buckeyes next year, one that promises to be another one in which OSU has a shot at doing some pretty special things.

There will of course be some guys that develop and jump up out of nowhere, but here’s the guys we know and love that’ll be coming to a television set and streaming device near you before you know it.

Next … No. 10

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Ohio State football way too early 2020 projected two-deep depth chart

The early departures are in and it’s time to look at a projected two-deep depth chart for Ohio State football in 2020.

Okay, here we go. The season is over, and already the competition begins for next year’s depth chart. We will of course go through this exercise multiple times in the off-season, but it’s fun to look at where things might stand as we move on under Ryan Day.

Here’s a very, very early look at Ohio State’s roster, and who might be penciled in with the two-deep as the new year turns. Disclaimer — it’ll change multiple times as we go through the process of getting a new team ready for competition in the spring and ultimately the fall.

Quarterback

1. Justin Fields**
2. Gunnar hoak

Of course Fields has things locked down, the real question will be who his backup is. Gunnar Hoak has one more year and knows the offense, but watch out for four-star commits C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller who will both be deep in the competition.

Running Back

1. Master Teague
2. marcus crowley

Dobbins is off to the NFL with one of the best single-seasons in Ohio State history. The big and strong Teague got the majority of the reps as the clear No. 2 this year and looks primed to be the guy in 2020. Crowley struggled with injuries last season but has the talent to be a part of things. Steele Chambers will also factor in.

Next … the pass catchers

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Ohio State WR Chris Olave takes blame for last play in Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State WR Chris Olave took full responsibility for the interception to end the Fiesta Bowl. Buckeye nation still appreciates him.

There are heartbreaking losses, and then there are program-defining losses that will be forever remembered. The latter happened for Ohio State in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl Saturday night. I told some fellow media members after the game that I’ve never witness an OSU football game in which I just felt so surprised on the outcome based on the way things went.

I am still shocked Ohio State didn’t pull that out last night.

The Buckeyes came out the way they needed to, played very well on both sides of the ball for the most part throughout the entire game, and outgained and outplayed Clemson for most of the contest. But in the end, there were a few too many key mistakes, and surely a few too many calls that simply didn’t go the good guys’ way.

Give the Tigers credit, but I don’t for one minute believe head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t have one-second where he thought his team might lose, no matter what he says.

Still, even at the end of the game, Ohio State marched right down the field in rhythm — executing its two-minute offense to perfection and found itself in position to cap off a game-winning drive. But just like the rest of the game, another break didn’t go the right way.

Justin Fields had plenty of time to throw and slung a pass with conviction toward wide-receiver Chris Olave. Unlike just a couple of possessions early though, this time instead of a touchdown, the pass was intercepted.

The way it was picked off will stick into the DNA of the program forever. Fields threw to a post-pattern while Olave broke towards the corner, leaving Clemson DB Nolan Turner all alone to make the easy play.

Afterwards, Olave owned what he called his mistake.

“It was a one-on-one with me on the safety, and I was supposed to run the post,” Olave said following the Fiesta Bowl thriller. “But when I looked back I thought he scrambled — so I tried to work the second part of my route. He ended up throwing it, and that’s how the game ended.”

That’s a big-time own by a kid that has turned into one whale of a threat in the passing game. And remember this: Ohio State isn’t likely in the College Football Playoff without Olave’s game-changing playmaking this year.

Olave is one heck of a kid, and is mature beyond his years. He strikes you as appreciative and engaging in post-game locker room sessions, always ending each interview with “appreciate you.” He’ll bounce back.

Go get ’em next year Chris. Appreciate you.

 

The X Factor player for Ohio State Against Clemson is …

If Ohio State hopes to dethrone Clemson and get into the national championship game, it’ll need this player to come up big.

While it seems that everyone is picking Clemson to win the titanic struggle in the desert, maybe there is one specific player that can make all the difference in the world for Ohio State.

In the Big Ten Championship game, KJ Hill was crucial to the success of Ohio State with his ability to catch the underneath routes to balance the deep threat ability of Chris Olave. Everyone has raved about Olave since he emerged last year against That Team Up North, but KJ Hill is as reliable as it gets and is often overshadowed and underappreciated.

In the Wisconsin game, Hill had a game-high seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns. His performance in the second half is what allowed Ohio State to open up the deep passing game to Olave.

The tandem of Olave and Hill is crucial to the success of Ohio State, but without the underneath routes, the safeties can stay high and limit the deep threat. Hill is second on the team in touchdowns, but he often gets the tough and dirty underneath yardage that isn’t nearly as glorious.

In order to reach the pinnacle of where this Ohio State team hopes to end up in 2019, it’ll need to rely on the experience of Hill to keep the defense guessing in the passing game. The fact that Hill is Ohio State’s all-time leader in receptions says he’s up to the task.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2019 Big Ten Championship football Preview And Prediction

Ohio State will tussle with Wisconsin for the second time this season in the Big Ten Championship Game. Here’s our preview and prediction.

Records

Ohio State (12-0), Wisconsin (10-2)

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Saturday, December 7
Game Time: 8pm ET
Network: FOX
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis – Capacity: 70,000
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 60-18-5
Last Meeting: Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 38-7 earlier this year

Boom! There’s nothing quite like owning your arch rival. The Buckeyes took care of business in impressive fashion with a dominating win over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor this past Saturday.

The regular season is done and now it’s time to focus on bigger prizes, namely a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff birth.

The Buckeyes will  face the Badgers of Wisconsin in a rematch of a crossover game from earlier in the season in which Ohio State cruised to a 38-7 victory in less than ideal weather conditions.

Weather won’t be a factor under the cover of Lucas Oil Stadium as Ohio State looks for its third straight Big Ten Championship.

On to Indy!

Next … The game plan

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Watch: Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave haul in remarkable catch

Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave dealt with some pass interference and still managed to make an unbelievable catch against Rutgers.

Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave had a catch for the ages against Rutgers Saturday night. Early in the 3rd quarter with the Buckeyes already up 35-7, Olave ran down the right sideline and was bowled over by a Rutgers defender.

It was of course called pass interference, but that didn’t stop the OSU receiver from making a spectacular play. While falling down, he kept his head on the ball, keeping his focus and was able to grab the ball around his ankles and keep it from hitting the ground.

The fact that Olave was able to somehow snatch the ball and caress it against his legs while playing through contact was pretty amazing and worth a watch.

In case you missed it, simply click on the below Tweet shared by Fox College Football and get a slow motion view of it.

Yes, the pass interference penalty was declined.

Simply unbelievable.