Ryan Day reveals impact of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave going back-to-back in NFL Draft

The Ohio State Buckeyes saw some success in the 2022 NFL Draft, with wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave going back-to-back in the first round. Wilson was selected with the No. 10 overall pick by the New York Jets, while Chris Olave was taken with the No. 11 pick by the New Orleans Saints.

Wilson and Olave going back-to-back illustrated the current success that Ohio State’s program is having, and that is a trend that is a welcome sight for Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.

“Well it’s emotional, and when you go through the recruiting process with a family, you sit down and you talk to them about the dream of moving on to the NFL,” Day said. “Certainly you have to start off with doing well at Ohio State. That obviously happened, and I think it was great. In the green room, their coaches were back-to-back, so it was really neat to see all the families and then certainly Chris and Garrett there. But then to go watch them go back-to-back like that was great. Lots of emotion and a lot of emotion for the family.

“But it’s just great to be a part of it. Certainly it’s a moment for us to step back, but also make sure that we’re there and supportive of them as they take the next step in their journey.”

Day after the NFL Draft: ‘It’s a very exciting time to be a quarterback and wide receiver’ at Ohio State

Ohio State has also had success with quarterbacks in recent NFL Drafts, with Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields being selected in the first round in recent years. The Buckeyes also have other wide receivers that weren’t first-round NFL Draft picks having success in the NFL, but Wilson and Olave truly put the Buckeyes in the spotlight. Having so much success has made it an exciting time to be part of the passing attack at Ohio State.

“It’s exciting, like I said it’s a very, very exciting time to be a quarterback and a wide receiver,” said Day. “Dwayne (Haskins) really kind of broke the mold when he became the first first-rounder at quarterback in a long time here. And then now you’re starting to see – then Justin (Fields) – now you’re starting to see some of those wide receivers. Certainly what Terry (McLaurin)‘s doing and Michael Thomas is doing and Parris (Campbell) and some of our guys that are having success in the NFL.

“You’re seeing that carry over, and you’re seeing some of the recruiting start to reflect that as well and now you’re starting to see a couple guys go in the first round. So it’s starting to pick up a lot of momentum, so it’s very exciting in recruiting to be in that area.”