The Ohio State offense has been potent this season and a major factor has been the play of wide receiver Chris Olave.

The dynamic junior missed the B1G title game vs. Northwestern but emphatically returned to record 6 receptions, 132 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the CFP semifinals vs. Clemson. The only time the Ohio State offense scored under 30 points when Olave was sidelined against Northwester.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay was effusive in his praise of Olave, whom he believes can be a first-round selection and No. 1 option in the NFL.

“He has [been really good for OSU from start to finish this year] and he knows how to separate, and he separates vertically,” McShay said on the ESPN First Draft podcast via 247Sports. “A lot of the throws are posts and post corners and those kind of throws that he just knows how to sink his hips and go. I think he’s a really good player. I think Olave is going to wind up being, you know, somewhere in the first round and wind up being good. If he’s not the number one wide receiver for an NFL team, he’s going to be the number two and he’s going to be a really good starter. I just think he keeps getting better and better and it’s fun to watch his development.”

Olave has amassed 42 receptions, 660 yards, and 7 touchdowns this season. For his Ohio State career, Olave has tallied 103 receptions, 1,706 yards, and 22 touchdowns.

Ohio State will face Alabama on Monday in the national championship game. Ohio State is seeking its first national title since 2014.