College football rankings: Top 10 wide receivers of 2021
1. Chris Olave, Ohio State
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises to forego the 2020 NFL Draft and elect to return to college, Chris Olave is the clear-cut best wide receiver in college football for the 2021 season. He’s been immensely productive over the past two seasons and likely would’ve been a first-round pick had he gone to the pros but Ohio State is surely glad he’s back in the fold.
As a sophomore, Olave burst onto the scene as a big-play threat, notching 48 receptions for 840 yards (17.5 yards per catch) with 12 touchdowns over 13 games. In only seven games with the Buckeyes in the 2020 season, he bettered his per-game numbers by a lot as the No. 1 target for Justin Fields, ending the year with 50 catches for 729 yards and seven scores.
Olave doesn’t necessarily have the elite athleticism that his teammate, Garrett Wilson, possesses but he’s not lacking by any stretch of the imagination. He can blow by defenders and break away with the best of them. However, he’s also the best route-runner in the country, only making him more dangerous in the passing game as he can work himself open at all levels of the field.
As mentioned, Ohio State boasts the best wide receiver room in the nation, so the fact that Olave is the unquestioned leader of that group solidifies his place as the best player at his position in college football. He’s already done plenty of damage to every defense he’s faced but now he’s back to wreak more havoc.
Next. Best college football wide receivers of the 21st century. dark
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