Carnell Tate Declares for NFL Draft

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate announced his declaration for the NFL Draft on Tuesday. Projections, including Yahoo Sports' latest mock draft, indicate Tate is a likely first-round selection. Yahoo Sports' midseason evaluation ranked him as the No. 12 prospect in his class and projected him to be selected fourth overall by the Tennessee Titans.

Ohio State Draft History and Tate's Performance

Tate, 20, is projected to be the sixth Ohio State wide receiver drafted in the first round since 2022. Previous first-round selections from Ohio State include Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave.

In the 2025 season, Tate recorded 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns across 11 games for the Buckeyes. Both figures placed him sixth in the Big Ten Conference. During the team's College Football Playoff championship season last year, Tate was a key receiver alongside Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka.

Scouting Analysis

According to Yahoo's Nate Tice, Tate exhibits length and hand-eye coordination, contributing to a substantial catching radius, particularly in sideline and red-zone situations. Tice noted that Tate's stride length facilitates ground coverage and his route-running has developed polish, enhancing his ability to operate at various depths.

Impact on Ohio State Roster

Tate's departure occurs as offensive coordinator Brian Hartline transitions to South Florida. While wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin are expected to remain with the team, Tate and Smith were the only wide receivers with over 300 receiving yards during the past season.

Additionally, Quincy Porter, a five-star recruit from last year's class, was reported to have entered the transfer portal on Tuesday. Mylan Graham, a recruit from the Class of 2024, also reportedly entered the transfer portal this weekend.