Chris Olave opts out of Rose Bowl, begins NFL draft prep
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Chris Olave has accomplished more than enough during his career at Ohio State.
His record-breaking Buckeyes career is now officially over. Olave has decided not to play in the Rose Bowl this weekend.
He will instead turn his focus toward preparing for the NFL draft, where he is expected by most to be a first-round pick.
He joins fellow wide receiver Garrett Wilson as Buckeyes offensive weapons to withdraw from playing Saturday. The decision was confirmed by Ohio State to Lettermen Row on Monday.
Olave isn’t the only opt out for the Buckeyes this bowl season, but he is one of the most crucial. The catalyst of the best wide receiver room in college football, Olave had 936 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns this season on his way to becoming the all-time leader for touchdowns in a career by a Buckeyes pass-catcher.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud won’t have Olave to throw to in the Rose Bowl, but he can’t fault the decision made by his deep-threat receiver.
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“I told Garrett [Wilson] yesterday, I was kind of messing with him, but told him: I don’t want to play with anybody but you,” Stroud said earlier this month. “But I tell him do what’s best for him. I really don’t have the say-so in that. That’s up to him and his family and what he wants to do.
“I told them both to just do whatever is best for you. I mean, at the end of the day, whatever they decide to do, I’m behind them. Because in this sport, in this life, in this college football world, a lot of people do what’s best for them. So you kind of have to do what’s best for you, even if it might look as a selfish situation. Because those guys gave everything to Ohio State. I’ve never seen them make a selfish decision.”
Stroud will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in the Rose Bowl. But his go-to, record-breaking receiver won’t be one of them.
After a historic Ohio State career, Chris Olave won’t play in the bowl game, instead turning his full focus to a pro career. His time with the Buckeyes has come to a close.
