Jaxon Smith-Njigba explains advantage of having Chris Olave practice with Buckeyes even after opting out of Rose Bowl

Star receiver Chris Olave has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and is opting out of No. 6 Ohio State’s Rose Bowl contest vs. No. 11 Utah.

However, fellow receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba still believes there’s an advantage to Olave practicing with the team this week leading up to kickoff.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba explains why it’s valuable to have Chris Olave still practicing with the team this week even though he isn’t playing.

(For those of you who are concerned about Olave taking reps from other players, Kevin Wilson said Olave has been getting “minimal” reps.) pic.twitter.com/Ss6iaQ2WBv

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 29, 2021

“Just that support really. Still out there being a leader also telling us what he sees,” Smith-Njigba said. “It’s great to have him in my ear and stuff, telling me what I’m going to see and stuff. Big advantage for sure.”

Olave amassed 65 receptions, 936 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. The 6-foo-1, 189-pound senior tallied 176 receptions, 2,711 yards, and 35 touchdowns during his time at Ohio State.

Ohio State is 10-2 overall and finished second in the B1G East. Utah has a 10-3 record and captured the Pac-12 title. Ohio State routed Utah 64-6 in the lone meeting between the programs in 1986.