This year's class of NFL Draft prospects has exceptional depth at the receiver position. And although projections are wide-ranging across the league's most reputable mock boards, there's certainly a chance that seven wideouts could be selected in the opening round for the first time since 2004. Dating back to 2000, there've been 88 first-round receivers, placing the average at four.
Ohio State stud Chris Olave currently has a first-round grade, and his numbers justify the evaluation. In four seasons with the vaunted Buckeyes, the 21-year-old racked up 2,702 receiving yards on 175 receptions, with a program-record 35 touchdowns. ESPN lead draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently described him as a "professional in every sense of the word," and Olave has understood the value of leadership traits for quite some time.
"That's huge, coming from him, one of the biggest analysts. That's huge and that's how I try to carry myself, on and off the field," Olave told The DA Show on Thursday. "I just try to do everything the right way. I feel like if you do that, the program's going to be a lot better... That's just how I was raised. I had two great parents growing up, they raised me and my brother the correct way. We were very mature at a young age. And I feel like that's how we are."
Olave, listed at 6-foot and 187 pounds, is currently the fourth-ranked wideout and 21st overall prospect on the Pro Football Focus draft big board. Last year, he recorded a team-high 13 touchdowns with 65 receptions and 936 yards in 11 games. Olave was a go-to target inside the red-zone -- 13 of his receptions resulted in scores. He also finished with 100-plus yards in five matchups, and posted the eighth-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.39) during the NFL Combine.
The entire NFL Draft conversation between Olave and DA can be accessed in the audio player above.
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