Former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is in contention to be the first prospect at his position off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tate had a breakout season in 2024 when the Buckeyes won the national championship, and his production exploded in 2025 as he distinguished himself as one of the best prospects in the country.
Tate is in line to become the latest Buckeyes wide receiver picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, his former teammate, Jeremiah Smith, is likely to extend Ohio State’s unprecedented reputation in 2027.
Carnell Tate Doubles Down on Michigan Rivalry
During this week’s segment of “The Rich Eisen Show,” Tate discussed the Buckeyes’ heated rivalry with the Michigan Wolverines after the host, Rich Eisen, revealed his affiliation with the Big Ten giants.
“The team up North,” Tate said. “That just shows you what the rivalry means to us and what it means to y’all. You can use words with the letter M, we just don’t use that particular name.”
Tate helped end Michigan’s four-game winning streak against Ohio State last season when the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 27-9 in Ann Arbor. He tallied 82 receiving yards on five receptions and one touchdown during the victory.
The Buckeyes have carved out a niche for themselves by producing some of the best wide receivers in NFL history, including Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Emeka Egbuka, Terry McLaurin, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. An Ohio State wide receiver has been selected in the first round of the past four NFL drafts, with five prospects picked during that time frame.
During his interview, Tate revealed why he chose to join the Buckeyes over offers from LSU and Alabama as the No. 3-ranked prospect at his position in the Class of 2023, per 247Sports.
“I ultimately chose Ohio State. I had a great relationship with coach Hartline,” Tate said. “He’s done it at an elite level, so it was only right for me to get that experience from him. He played at a high level, so everyone’s trying to do what he did, and he was just pouring all of his experience down to us.
“It was my dream school. I grew up a Buckeye. I always watched them, and ultimately, if you want to go first round as a receiver, you go to Ohio State.”
Last season, Tate earned a PFSN College Wide Receiver Impact score of 84.5 after registering 875 receiving yards on 51 receptions, resulting in nine touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
