3 Ohio State receivers in line to break out in Rose Bowl with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave opting out

With Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave opting out of the Rose Bowl, somebody has to step up within the Ohio State Buckeyes receiving corps vs. the Utah Utes.

By deciding to turn pro, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave’s Rose Bowl opt-outs have opened big-time opportunities for other members of the Ohio State receiving corps.

The Buckeyes will face the Pac-12 champion Utah Utes in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. This may be one of the biggest games in Utah football history, but the Rose Bowl does not carry the same gravitas as it once did for programs like Ohio State that expect to play in the College Football Playoff annually. Regardless, there will be some Buckeyes who will have to step up on Saturday.

With Jaxon Smith-Njigba having already had his breakout season, look for these three Buckeyes to take advantage of their opportunities in the Rose Bowl vs. a very strong Utah program.

Ohio State football: 3 wide receivers to break out in Rose Bowl vs. Utah Utes

Emeka Egbuka was a 5-star wide receiver coming out of high school for a reason

Though he has not been much of a factor in the receiving corps, Emeka Egbuka has made an impact in the return game during his true freshman season in Columbus. While it might be harder for him to get reps in the receiving corps with Smith-Njigba presumably staying in the slot for this game, Egbuka could have a big-time play in the Rose Bowl to set himself up for success next year.

Julian Fleming is the most experienced member of this revamped receiving corps

If there is any pressure on anyone in this Buckeyes receiving corps to make an impact in the Rose Bowl, it would have to be Julian Fleming. This is his sophomore season with the team, but he has not been able to do much about cracking the deep receiving group thus far. Expect to start outside, he cannot be outshined by either wide receiver who is only finishing in his true freshman season.

Nobody can deny Marvin Harrison Jr.’s hall-of-fame pedigree at wide receiver

If Marvin Harrison Jr. is half as good as his namesake father, then the Buckeyes will have themselves one heck of a Big Ten football player. Harrison had a strong showing in spring practice as one of the first freshman Buckeyes to lose his black stripe. Expect to start outside the numbers, Harrison just might be the wide receiver to go off in a big way in the Rose Bowl game vs. the Utes.

Ohio State is in great position to see what it has in Egbuka, Fleming and Harrison heading into next college football season.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.