Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate deserves to be an early favorite to be the first wide receiver drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
History tells us to trust former highly recruited receivers from Ohio State, with names like Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Terry McLaurin dominating the NFL. But can Tate stack up to those who came before him?
Tate Finally Earns His Opportunity To Shine for OSU
Regarded as a five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, Tate was recognized as the third-best wide receiver that year by 247 Sports. Coming from IMG Academy, Tate caught 30 passes for 777 yards and eight touchdowns as a high school senior.
Despite being buried in a loaded wide-receiver room as a freshman, Tate finished his first college campaign with 18 receptions for 264 yards and one touchdown. His reception totals outperformed the freshman tallies of Chris Olave (12), Marvin Harrison Jr. (11), Curtis Samuel (11), Jaxson Smith-Njigba (10), and Emeka Egbuka (nine).
During Ohio State’s National Championship run, Tate was the Buckeyes’ tertiary option behind Egbuka and freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. While fighting for targets, he racked up 733 receiving yards on 52 receptions with four touchdowns.
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate is the epitome of smooth pic.twitter.com/2jU1H0yVtg
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) June 3, 2025
The 2025 season presents Tate with a chance to prove how impactful he can be, with significant attention likely going to his counterpart, Smith.
Tate’s Deep Dive: How Does the Ohio State WR Separate Himself?
Smooth is the only word you need to describe Tate’s play. From his release to his acceleration to the cuts in his route running, Tate is an efficient mover all over the field. Additionally, Tate possesses a large frame that he impressively uses to win reps against defenders.
The play below perfectly sums up how he consistently wins. Out of his break, he reaches top speed quickly and then effectively shifts momentum with a subtle fake that devastates the defensive back covering him.
The play isn’t flashy until the end, but the slight nuance to how quickly he jabs toward the sideline while not losing speed up towards the middle of the field causes the defensive back to hesitate slightly. That second is enough for Tate to capitalize on a massive opening. He then tracks the ball well to secure a huge catch with multiple defensive backs trailing him.
Tate’s ability to free himself from tight coverage at the line scrimmage with a shifty release shows up often on his film. With choppy feet and a deceptive burst, Tate can pick up speed in close quarters once given just a yard of space. Throughout his tape, he shines with a diverse release package, with an understanding of what to use in certain situations. The play below is another example of him excelling at the little things and making an impact.
A slight stutter allows Tate to cut back towards the middle of the field and haul in a pass for an underrated gain. While this rep isn’t a huge touchdown reception, small chunk plays throughout a game are needed for offenses to move the chains.
For a 6’3″ receiver, Tate has an underrated change-of-direction ability to stop his forward momentum rapidly. He also flashes on tape an understanding of how to use his large frame to shield his body away from defenders and catch the football securely.
On the above play, Tate has a very tight window with minimal time as he settles in between the zones of multiple defensive backs. He urgently plants, snags the ball, and can turn upfield to generate extra yards.
While the 2026 NFL Draft could see more explosive prospects like Zachariah Branch or Eric Singleton rise to be the first wide receiver selected, Tate will still be one of the most well-rounded in the class. Ohio State has consistently developed its receivers to be impactful in every area, and Tate epitomizes that in his play.
His primary deficiency, which is correctable this offseason, is being a more natural catcher and more consistent at tracking the ball in the air. At times, there have been lapses in which Tate has dropped easy catches or appeared uncomfortable coming down with a pass.
Overall, Tate has the frame and developed tools to be a top-50 pick in this class, especially in a year that doesn’t currently have an alpha dog leading the discussion. Teams needing a reliable second receiver in their offense will covet Tate’s skill set, making him a highly desired prospect next April.
