Carnell Tate: Next in line at Ohio State's wide receiver factory.

Written by Brandon Pulmano

Founder | Sideline Society Media

At this point, it’s not a coincidence that Ohio State University is a wide receiver factory. At Ohio State Buckeyes football, elite wide receivers aren’t just developed, they’re expected. Over the past four NFL Draft cycles, five Buckeye wideouts have come off the board in the first round. You have Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and recently Emeka Egbuka turning Columbus into the premier proving ground for NFL ready pass catchers.

That’s the norm Carnell Tate walked into.

After fast tracking his arrival by graduating early from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Tate enrolled at Ohio State in January 2023 with a clear vision. To develop, produce, and follow the pipeline. By 2025, that vision turned into production.

Even after missing three games with a calf strain, Tate delivered a breakout junior campaign that solidified his status as a true go-to weapon. He finished with 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. Five of those scores came from 40 plus yards out, and he ranked second in the FBS with nine receptions of 40 yards or more all while recording zero drops on the season.

That combination of reliability and explosiveness is what separates him.

At 6’2” with a sturdy frame, Tate wins in ways that don’t always show up at the combine. He’s a polished, detail oriented route runner who understands how to manipulate defenders with subtle tempo changes and positioning. In 2025, that translated into a massive leap in contested catch efficiency, jumping from 54.5% the year prior to an elite 85.7%. When the ball is in the air, it’s his.

What makes Tate especially intriguing is how complete his game has become. He’s not just a vertical threat he’s an immediate impact run blocker, that brings physicality and effort to every snap. That kind of attention to detail points to a receiver built for all three downs, not just highlight plays.

From a projection standpoint his pro comparison is Tee Higgins. Like Higgins, Tate isn’t defined by elite testing numbers, but by consistency, body control, and the ability to win in contested situations. He plays faster than he times, understands leverage, and operates with a level of polish that most college receivers don’t reach until much later in their careers.

There are still areas to monitor. His long speed is more functional than explosive, and he may not generate significant yards after the catch due to limited twitch and change ofvdirection ability. Durability will also be part of the evaluation after the calf injury. But those concerns don’t overshadow what he already is done, Tate is a high floor receiver with clear WR1 upside.

And in Columbus, that usually means one thing.

With his name climbing into the top 10 conversation…

Carnell Tate is positioned to be the next first round receiver out of Columbus.

Another reminder that at Ohio State, the pipeline doesn’t slow down. It reloads. The factory produces another hit.