Chris Olave reveals how Dwayne Haskins helped him when he arrived at Ohio State

When Chris Olave arrived at Ohio State, he was a 17-year-old from San Marcos, California. He got to Columbus at a good time because Dwayne Haskins was the quarterback — and Olave became a part of history.

Olave’s freshman year was 2018, which was the year Haskins threw for 50 touchdowns as part of a record-breaking season. He connected with Olave for three of them, and the likely first-round pick reflected on Haskins’ impact on him in the wake of his sudden passing earlier this month.

But the biggest lessons Olave learned from Haskins early in his career weren’t necessarily on the field. It was a lesson about his mentality, and it helped the young Olave as he embarked on an all-time Buckeyes career.

“I came in at 17 to college,” Olave said Monday on The Rich Eisen Show. “He gave me that boost of confidence. Just being around him. He kind of lifted the whole room up just with energy and his confidence and his mindset. That kind of helped me, being on the same field as him, especially looking up to him as a leader that year. That helped me a lot. He kind of boosted my confidence.”

In his four years with the Buckeyes, Olave also broke records. He totaled 35 receiving touchdowns, passing David Boston for the most in Ohio State program history. It was quite a way to end his Buckeyes career, along with 935 receiving yards as a senior with CJ Stroud under center.

Chris Olave explains why Ohio State was best decision for him

Chris Olave put together a standout career at Ohio State, there’s no question about it. Tallying 2,711 yards and 35 touchdowns over four seasons with the Buckeyes, Olave has now closed the door on his collegiate career and is ready to take his game to the next level.

A former On3 Consensus four-star recruit who held a number of scholarship offers coming out of Mission Hills (California) High School, Olave could’ve stayed close to home and played in the Pac-12. Ultimately, he decided on OSU. Joining The Rich Eisen Show on Monday, Olave explained what factored into his decision to play at Ohio State.

“It was a huge decision for me, but I feel like it was the best decision for me,” Olave said. “I’m glad I went to that school. They had a lot of resources – on and off the field – and just the relationships I created there will last a lifetime. So, I feel like Ohio State was huge on the field and academically, and I feel like it was the best decision for me.”