Story by
Carnell Tate, Ohio State's Next Great NFL WR Prospect
- Story by
- Carnell Tate, Ohio State's Next Great NFL WR Prospect
Key Points:
-
Ohio State 's Carnell Tate is the next in a long line of talented pass-catchers to come out of Columbus.
-
Tate put on a show in Saturday's blowout win over Wisconsin , catching six passes for 111 yards and two touhdowns.
-
The 6-3 junior is expected to make it four straight years with a first-round wide receiver for Ohio State in the NFL Draft.
The list seems to grow every year.
It was Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023, Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024, and Emeka Egbuka in 2025.
If your favorite NFL team wants a superstar wide receiver, Columbus is probably the best place to start looking.
Advertisement
Ohio State continues to deliver pro-ready pass-catchers to the next level at a ridiculous rate, and Carnell Tate is next in line.
Heading into Saturday's road matchup against Wisconsin, Tate had already tallied 28 receptions for 476 yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging 17 yards per catch. He padded those numbers with a stellar performance against the Badgers, hauling in six passes for a team-high 111 yards (18.5 yards per catch), including a pair of scores.
Tate put his do-it-all skill set on full display in this game, showing off his explosiveness, route-running chops, body control and contested-catch prowess in a 34-0 blowout for the Buckeyes. This ridiculous touchdown catch, in double coverage while losing his helmet, was particularly absurd:
Advertisement
Yeah, that deserves an alternate angle:
Listed at 6-3, 195 pounds, the 20-year-old junior from Chicago has an NFL-ready frame, and the polish and precision as a technician to make an immediate impact at the NFL level. He's proving on a weekly basis that he can beat opposing defenses in a variety of different ways, attacking the field at every level and making explosive plays down the field.
It's certainly a tough act to follow after watching what the likes of JSN, Harrison and Ebuka have done over the past few years. But if Tate continues to put out the kind of film we've seen from him so far this season, and the production follows, it won't be surprising if he comes off the board early in the first round when next April rolls around.
Advertisement
After that, he'll likely be the next in a long line of Ohio State receivers to make a massive impact right away in the NFL.
There's already been plenty of buzz about Jeremiah Smith , who won't be eligible for the draft until 2027, and it's easy to understand why everyone's excited about his potential at the pro level. But his eventual transition shouldn't overshadow what Tate is doing on the field right now, and the value he brings to the 2026 receiver class.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
