2026 NFL Prospect – Ohio State WR Carnell Tate

Ohio State continuously churns out NFL talent, and wide receiver prospect Carnell Tate is no different. The former high school five-star recruit has made a name for himself in Columbus, showing off his playmaking skills and turning heads of NFL scouts and coaches alike. With teammates like Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, Tate could have been overlooked, but his play demanded otherwise.

Tate’s production at the Horseshoe has increased every season since arriving as a freshman, even in very crowded receiving rooms. In 2023, he grabbed 18 balls and scored a touchdown before breaking out in 2024, logging 52 receptions for over 700 yards and 4 touchdowns. With Egbuka off to the NFL, Tate and Smith with anchor the Buckeye starting lineup, providing an opportunity to light up the scoreboard and stat sheet. 

Strengths

Tate is a rangy 6’3”, and he uses that height and catch radius to high-point balls well and come down with contested catches more often than not. He’s deceptively fast, but not a burner, as his game speed is better than his 40-time. He may be the best route runner in this class of receivers and excels against zone defenses. In the right NFL scheme, Tate can be super-efficient with his ability to find the soft spots and pick up necessary yardage. 

And for run-happy teams, Tate is a willing blocker and can play both inside and outside, offering a level of positional flexibility. He tracks the ball well in the air and, like many OSU receivers before him, already plays with a pro-level attitude. He will be a great addition to any receiving room or huddle. 

Weaknesses 

Tate will need to add some weight to his 190 lb. frame to endure the rigors of the league. He’s not small, but hitting the weight room to add functional strength before he goes pro will help him break tackles and with his combat catching. 

Tate won’t take the top off of a defense with blazing speed and will need to rack up the stats to separate from the rest of the 2026 wide receiver class. It won’t help that Jeremiah Smith will be eating into his targets, so Tate will have something to prove. 

Conclusion 

Carnell Tate is on the bubble in many mock drafts already, flirting with a first-round grade, with some sites having him head off the board early in the second. He will have to put up the stats to lock himself into the first, but there’s no doubt he’s got the talent to do it. 

He isn’t going to excite teams looking for a deep threat. But Tate is a dependable wideout with versatility, the best route runner in this group of prospects, and his professional approach might help him to not only grab hold of a first-round grade but excel at the next level.