COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State senior wide receiver Chris Olave on Wednesday was announced as one of 30 nationwide candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the areas of community service, classroom, character and competition.

The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during football bowl season in December. Ohio State has one previous Senior CLASS winner in its past: James Laurinaitis in 2008.

Olave, a team captain this season, has played in 40 career games with 134 receptions for 2,149 yards and 27 touchdowns, which is tied for Cris Carter for the third-most in school history. The only two players with more are Devin Smith (30) and David Boston (34). He is in the top 10 in career receptions (10th), receiving yards (ninth) and touchdown receptions (third).

In last Saturday’s 52-13 win over Rutgers, Olave caught five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. It was the ninth multi-TD game of his career. He currently ranks second in the Big Ten in touchdown catches (five), seventh in yards (374), ninth in receptions (23) and ninth in yards-per-catch (16.3).

COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS