Chris Olave

Chris Olave was selected by the Saints in the first round (11th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. A talented wide receiver out of San Ysidro, California who became one of the most prolific receivers in Buckeyes history, Olave played in 47 games and caught 176 passes for 2,711 yards (15.4 avg.) with 35 touchdowns. Olave's 35 career touchdown receptions set an Ohio State program record and ranks fourth in Big Ten Conference history

COLLEGE CAREER – A talented wide receiver out of San Ysidro, California who became one of the most prolific receivers in Buckeyes history, Olave played in 47 games and caught 176 passes for 2,711 yards (15.4 avg.) with 35 touchdowns. Olave's 35 career touchdown receptions set an Ohio State program record and ranks fourth in Big Ten Conference history. His 11 career 100-yard games also ranks second in school history. Olave entered the starting lineup in 2019 with immediate results. He helped lead the Buckeyes to three consecutive Big Ten championships (2018-2020) and back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances (2019, 2020). In the 2020 CFP Semifinal vs. Clemson, Olave had a career night, hauling in six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-28 win, securing a bid to play in the championship game. Olave will look to integrate into the Saints offense in training camp after a standout senior campaign, where he caught 65 passes for 936 yards (14.4 avg.) and 13 touchdowns, tied for sixth nationally, as he was selected as an AFCA first-team All-American and a consensus second-team All-American.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Selected by the Saints in the first round (11th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

2021– As a senior, named first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive season, when he started all 12 games…Nominated as a first-team All-American by the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) and named a consensus second-team All-American…Voted a team captain…Finished the season with 65 passes for 936 yards with 13 touchdowns, tied for sixth nationally…Recorded a career-high 12 receptions for 126 yards against Oregon…Had a career high 140 receiving yards in a win over seventh-ranked Michigan State…Finished season with five games over 100 yards receiving. 2020– Named first-team All-Big Ten, when he started all seven games in the COVID-19 shortened season…Led the Buckeyes in receiving for the second year in a row, finishing with 50 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns…Tied an Ohio State single-season record for average receptions per game (7.1)…Caught six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-28 Sugar Bowl win over Clemson to advance the Buckeyes into the National Championship game. 2019– Blossomed into one of the top receivers for the Big Ten champions, finishing with team-highs in receiving yards (849), yards per catch (17.3) and touchdowns (12), playing in all 14 games with five starts...Had a career day on the road against Rutgers, hauling in four passes for 139 yards…Named third-team All-Big Ten. 2018– Played in 14 games as a true freshman, making a name for himself as a big-play wide receiver and on special teams...After catching only two passes in his first nine games, Olave finished his freshman campaign with ten catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns in the final five games of the season…Highlight of his freshman season was on one of the biggest stages of college football against Michigan, where he caught two touchdowns and blocked a punt in a 62-39 win over fourth-ranked Wolverines…Finished the year with twelve receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns.

PERSONAL: Attended Mission Hills (San Marcos, Calif.), HS, where he enjoyed a monster senior campaign, catching 93 passes for 1,764 yards (18.9 avg.) and 26 TDs…Olave's 1,764 receiving yards set a San Diego Section record…Sat out his junior season after transferring to Mission Hills from Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.) HS...Also played basketball and ran track in high school…Ran a 10.8 100-meter dash and long jumped 23 feet, six inches…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in consumer and family financial services.