Scarlet Sunrise: Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson named finalists for NFL Rookie of the Year

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Former Buckeyes wide receivers Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson named finalists for NFL Rookie of the Year

A marvelous year for former Ohio State wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson just keeps getting better. Olave and Wilson already made NFL history, becoming the first pair of rookies from the same school to each top the 1,000-yard receiving mark. Now, they’re both finalists for NFL Rookie of the Year.

They make up a third of the candidates for the award. Here are the six finalists:

• WR Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints)
• WR Garrett Wilson (New York Jets)
• CB Sauce Gardner (New York Jets)
• DL Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions)
• CB Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks)
• RB Kenneth Walker III (Seattle Seahawks)

Olave was the 11th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft. Wilson was one spot ahead of him. The duo, which combined for 1,994 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns at Ohio State in 2021, has often been talked about in the same breath this season. They’ve made the transition to the league look seamless, and their rookie stats — touchdowns aside — aren’t far off their Buckeyes single-season numbers. And that’s with less-than-ideal quarterback situations.

• Olave: 72 receptions, 1,042 yards, 14.5 yards/reception, 4 touchdowns
• Wilson: 83 receptions, 1,103 yards, 13.3 yards/reception, 4 touchdowns

While Ohio State had a pair of rookie wide receivers go for 1,000 yards in the NFL, the Buckeyes had two current wideouts — Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka — hit that milestone, too.

Ohio State fans can vote for Olave or Wilson to win NFL Rookie of the Year until Feb. 3. The winner will be revealed the week of the Super Bowl.

Tim May Podcast: C.J. Stroud decision impact, early peak ahead at B1G race next season

This week’s episode of the Tim May Podcast covers the biggest NFL Draft decisions made by Buckeyes players, most notably quarterback C.J. Stroud declaring on the day of the deadline. But he’s not the only impact departure. Ohio State also said goodbye to three starting offensive linemen, not to mention a few key defenders as well.

Tim May is joined by former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry, a leader on the Buckeyes’ 2014 national title team, to discuss those draft decisions, how they affect Ohio State’s 2023 roster and where the Buckeyes stack up in what could be another loaded Big Ten East division.

Want to stay up to date with the Buckeyes’ offseason? Well, then give the Tim May Podcast a listen:

Buckeyes add Oregon State transfer quarterback Tristan Gebbia

The Buckeyes added a fourth scholarship quarterback Tuesday. Soon-to-be seventh-year grad transfer Tristan Gebbia is transferring from Oregon State to Ohio State. Gebbia started his career at Nebraska before making the move to Oregon State, where he spent the next five seasons. Gebbia started five games for the Beavers across five years, and he missed the 2021 season with a hamstring injury he suffered against Oregon in 2020.

In 12 total appearances for Oregon State, Gebbia logged 1,250 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He adds depth and experience to a Buckeyes quarterback room that just lost a two-year starter and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist in Stroud to the NFL Draft. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, the top-two candidates to replace Stroud as the team’s starter, don’t have much game experience. Gebbia does, and that’s valuable to the position group.

This will be Gebbia’s final year of eligibility.

READ: What addition of transfer quarterback Tristan Gebbia means for Buckeyes

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 227 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 311 days

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