GET TO KNOW THE REESE’S SENIOR BOWL’S TOP 2022 PROSPECTS

 

Beyond X's and O's with Chris Olave, Ohio State WR

 

What sports did you play in high school?

• “I played basketball, I ran track, and I played baseball my senior year.”

Tell me about your move from San Diego to Ohio, football wise – is the locker room somewhat the same? Are there differences in how the game is played?

• “It is very different. I mean you come to Ohio State and it’s one of the best facilities in the nation. Just being around guys that are so talented and so gifted. The people are more loving, especially in Columbus. There are so many fans, I’ve never witnessed so many fans. I mean the weather is crazy, I’ve never been in the cold really. When I got out here it was definitely a lot different. I had to adjust to the weather quick, especially in the Winter.”

What is your biggest motivator?

• “Probably my mom, I learned a lot from her growing up. When I’m down, I look at her and see everything she’s been through, it makes me get back up.”

What is your day-to-day routine?

• “I try to get up and get moving early in the morning. I stretch in the morning, eat a little breakfast, and then go get treatment. I try to work on my body in the morning, then I go to class. The days I don’t have class, I just try to chill at my crib and watch something on tv and get my mind right for practice. I try to get there early, eat a little something, get in the hot tub, and stretch a little bit. Then after practice, I come home watch film and play 2K or Madden, and just have some me-time.”

What is your pregame warm-up song?

• “I don’t listen to a whole lot of music. It would probably be something by Rod Wade, he is my favorite artist right now – something like ‘Rags to Riches.’”

Who is your role model?

• “My brothers. I have two older brothers. I kinda looked up to them growing up. We all played the same sports, we were always competing in everything. They were older than me so I looked up to them and saw what they did and tried to be better than them. They kinda set the tone and made me fall in love with the game.”

Tell me a little bit about the relationship you have with Terry McLaurin when you were a freshman and he was a senior?

• “Yeah that’s my guy. I kinda look up to him. When I came in I didn’t really know anybody and he kinda took me under his wing and showed me the way and how things should be done. He showed me a lot. I still talk to him to this day. I kind of look up to him as a big brother. I appreciate him a lot.”

What is your favorite college football memory?

• “My freshman year against Michigan, or when we beat Clemson in the playoffs. I will never forget those two games.”

What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?

• “Just having fun and trying to win some games. At the end of the day I just want to have fun and connect with my teammates – get closer with them and build long-time relationships with them. I mean that’s what football’s all about. We stress so much about football, but at the end of the day you just gotta have fun with it and build relationships, like I said. You just gotta keep going and keep pushing.”

Tell me a little bit about the transition between going from an early first round QB to a first-year starter QB. How has your role as a leader changed?

• “Yeah when you have a guy like Justin, you’re never really worried, you know the ball is going to be there. I set a standard for myself to be the best player I can be. I mean Justin is the kind of player that you know what you are going to get out of him every day. With the transition to a new quarterback you have to be patient. There are a lot of different concepts and a lot of different things that the coach has to get comfortable with. It’s been tough, but we’re getting in a rhythm now and building our chemistry."

Who is a QB in the NFL you want to catch a pass from?

• “Of course Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers – those type guys. Watching Kyler Murray in college, I kinda liked him a lot. He is done a good job with the Cardinals.”

Who is the best player you have ever played against?

• “I’d have to say Nick Bosa is the best player I’ve ever played against.”

Is there an NFL player that you try to model your game after?

• “I wouldn’t say model my game after, but someone I watched a lot of highlights on and try to put some things that he has in my game is Deshaun Jackson. I am a huge fan of his.”

What do you look for when watching tape on the opposing team?

• “There are a lot of different things I look in to – coverages, adjustments, but mostly I look at the person I’m going to go against, or the corners. I look at the whole secondary to see what their strengths and weaknesses are - how they play at the line, how they play off coverage, there are just a lot of different things I look at to that with an advantage when it comes to game day.”

Can you talk about your decision to come back and play for Ohio State this year?

• “I wanted to come back and get stronger and develop my game. I felt like I wasn’t they best player I wanted to be leaving college. I trusted in my coaches – Coach Dan, Coach Hartline just to try to come back and get better and try to be the best receiver in the country. And to win a national championship – that’s one of the main reasons, too. Having that feeling we had last year losing to Alabama was tough.”

Is there an area in your game you want to improve on the rest of this season?

• “I want to get better at my run after catch. That one is huge to me. I haven’t had many opportunities to run after catch the last couple years, so I need to work on that. I want to play stronger as well.”

Tell me about Coach Brian Hartline – played in the 2009 Senior Bowl, had a great career in the NFL, what’s it like being coached by someone that was in a similar position that you are in now?

• “He played in the NFL and has a lot of experience. He is a real smart dude, real smart. He has a lot of connections. He’s help me a lot – off the field too, so I respect him a lot. He is the best in the country to do it.”

If you could bring one teammate to the NFL with you, who would it be?

• “Probably Garrett Wilson. He is one of the most talented players I’ve seen. Being able to have us on both sides of the field would be really cool.”

You’re stuck on a deserted island with three teammates – who are they?

• “I would probably have Gee Scott. Gee’s gotta be in there – good vibes. Dawand Jones. He’s just a big body. If we have to move something or make something he would be good. Lastly, would probably be Cam Brown. He’s got it all. He’s my dog, so he has to be there. He is one of my closest friends so he’s gotta be up there.”