Ohio State WR Carnell Tate Scouting Report
Tate It To The House
Image 1: WR Carnell Tate (18) making a play as a ball carrier
Height: 6’3
Weight: 195
Position: WR
Year: Junior
Background
Image 2: WR Carnell Tate (18) running a route during his final year at IMG Academy
Born on January 19, 2005, Carnell Tate was a Five-Star WR prospect in the class of 2023 who initially played at Maurist High School in Chicago, Illinois. After two dominate seasons, Tate decided to transfer to IMG Academy as a junior to further develop as a player and improving his exposure. The decision paid off as Tate became one of the nation’s premier WR prospects and became the target of a major recruiting battle between Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Ultimately, Tate decided to commit to Ohio State to receive coaching from WR guru Brian Hartline.
As a Buckeye, Tate saw limited production as a freshman due to being buried on the depth chart behind Ohio State’s experienced upperclassman and wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. Though the following season’s spotlight was on Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State’s National Championship, Carnell Tate emerged as a great WR3 who could be a program’s WR1. Despite rumors of a potential transfer, Tate stayed in Columbus for his junior season, where he has proven that he is one of the best WRs in the NCAA. With a quality season so far for the Buckeyes, Tate has emerged as a consensus top prospect in the 2026 NFL draft class.
Athletic Tools
A long, fluid player, Carnell Tate immediately stands out as a natural field stretcher. While he lacks elite speed, Tate is a constant big-play threat as he utilizes his acceleration, stride length, and deep speed to eat up the cushion of off-coverage defenders or stack corners playing tighter coverage. Beyond his ability as a deep threat, Tate is one of the premier contested-catch targets in the class. Whether in the red zone or playing against athletic corners who can recover downfield, Tate uses his great length and body control to secure difficult catches.
Video 1: WR Carnell Tate (18) forces the CB to open his hips early and wins deep on a post
Video 2: WR Carnell Tate (18) uses his deep speed to eat up the cushion of the CB and catch a great ball outside his frame
Video 3: WR Carnell Tate (18) high point the ball for the touchdown
Though very effective at it, Tate is more just a deep threat who can make difficult catches. With quick deceleration ability, Tate is highly effective at running comebacks, curls, and hitches. With some schemes relying on softer coverages to prevent explosive plays, Tate can get easy yardage underneath the coverage or when settling in soft spots. Beyond his receiving ability, Tate is a dynamic playmaker after the catch and a capable blocker. As a ball carrier, Tate’s acceleration, vision, and quickness enable him to create explosive plays both on designed targets and RAC opportunities. As a blocker, Tate lacks the high-end size or strength, but he has enough length and size to be usable in play designs that call for him to seal off DBs.
Video 4: WR Carnell Tate (18) throttle downs on the comeback and then boxes out the CB
Video 5: WR Carnell Tate (18) using his acceleration and fluidity to generate an explosive play on the bubble screen
Video 6: WR Carnell Tate (18) lands both of his strikes inside the landmarks and seals the defender off to help clear space for the screen
Technicals
From a technical standpoint, Tate still needs refinement. In terms of what he does well, Tate is great at getting off the line. With varied releases and a quick first step, Tate is able to get off press against NFL-caliber DBs. Beyond his releases, Tate has great ball skills as he constantly attacks the ball in the air while rarely having concentration drops. Combined with his frame and contested catch prowess, Tate projects as an incredibly reliable receiver who can be a major jump ball winner in the NFL. With solid feel locating and settling in soft spots, Tate does a great job of creating easy throwing windows for his QB.
Video 7: WR Carnell Tate (18) releases off the line and wins deep down the field
Video 8: WR Carnell Tate (18) settles in the soft spot after running a curl
While his ability to beat press and secure the ball is great, Tate needs major development as a route runner. Tate is effective on stop and vertical concepts, but he is poor at running any in-breaking and out-breaking concepts. By lacking salesmanship and clean breaks, Tate is easy to read, which lets DBs drive on him to make plays. Though he is able to win passes even when defenders try to be competitive at the catch point, Tate has created turnovers by giving advantages to defenders. In a league where digs, slants, and crossing routes are staples of modern offenses, Tate is going to improve his route running on these concepts to reach his potential. Lastly, effort is difficult to assess without interviewing coaches and watching practices, but Tate has several moments on tape where he displays poor motor and effort on hustle opportunities.
Video 9: WR Carnell Tate (18) runs the in route without any salesmanship at the stem
Video 10: WR Carnell Tate (18) rounds his break and lets the DB undercut it
Draft Projection
Carnell Tate currently has a day one grade. Though he needs to play with more effort and improve as a route runner, Tate’s contested catch, field stretching, and YAC/RAC ability are going to make him a starter and give him the potential to develop into a WR1. Even if he does not grow much more as a route runner on in and out breaking concepts, Tate should be a quality WR2 for an offense as an X receiver who serves as a deep/contested target who can make plays with the ball in his hands. While he is a weaker WR prospect to lead a class, Tate is my current WR1. Tate is a prospect I would ideally be taking in the teens, but I would understand if a team desperate for a pass catcher takes him within the top ten.
Athletic Testing
Will be updated after the NFL Combine/Ohio State Pro Day
Pro Comparison
Image 3: WR George Pickens (3) during his 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys
Both taller, slender receivers with impressive contested catch and field-stretching ability, Carnell Tate and George Pickens are very similar players. With long strides and good releases, Pickens and Tate are big deep threats that win vertically despite not having elite speed. Additionally, both are effective at generating explosive plays after the catch due to their vision, acceleration, and quickness. While he was relegated to a limited role and route tree in Pittsburgh, Pickens has broken out as a complete WR as he has seen greater opportunity and a bigger role in Dallas. If he is able to develop his route running and play with more effort, Tate can follow a similar career path and develop into a true WR1 like Pickens.
Date Published: 10/05/2025
Date Last Updated: 12/31/2025
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