By now, there’s little doubt that Ohio State is locked in for the playoffs. And, there’s even less doubt about the Buckeyes producing some of the best receivers for the pros. Ryan Day’s wideouts have constantly made him proud in the draft. In the 2026 draft, one more will join the growing list of elite WR receivers. No, it’s not Jeremiah Smith.

It’s tough for any other receiver to shine amidst the dominance Smith has established for himself. But Carnell Tate has done it. The senior WR, finally getting the big reps this season, has been a standout performer alongside Smith. Tate’s draft stock is sure to be thanking his remarkable growth this season. “Tate (6-3, 195) has the all-around game to receive a Round 1 grade, especially in a class with limited top-tier receiver prospects,” analyst Matt Miller wrote for ESPN.

Carnell Tate is almost a guaranteed bet for Ohio State of getting a Round 1 pick. But it’s not locked in yet. That’s because it’s still unlikely he’ll beat ASU’s Jordyn Tyson, who has seated himself as WR1. But he’s pretty much there. Miller noted the WR’s brilliant show against Minnesota, where he hauled in 9 catches for 183 yards, and 1 TD. He now follows Smith on the receivers’ leaderboard, with 34 receptions, 587 yards, and 6 TDs. Tate has a unique ability of being able to play anywhere on the field. He can play as a slot receiver, and can also be a target for deep throws.

OC Brian Hartline, who himself has sent 5 OSU receivers as Round 1 picks to the NFL, noted that Tate was going to be a different player this season. “Carnell kind of turned the switch on his own. He’s a self-driven individual,” Hartline said earlier. “I think he identified that when Emeka [Egbuka] left there was going to be a potential void from a leadership standpoint, and he just grabbed it by the wings and ran with it,” he added. Tate just lodged one of his best performances in the season so far against Wisconsin. He had the highest PFF grades on the offense, outshining Jeremiah Smith. He will hope to build his stocks up further in a defining opportunity against Penn State this weekend.

Ryan Day’s receiving corps have continuously shown how elite they are this season, as they did last year. But the HC does have a plan in mind to get the best out of this department.

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Ryan Day says Jeremiah Smith-Carnell Tate ‘need’ help from the depth

Before the season, Jeremiah Smith was the face of the WR room. After all, he came with a trailblazing freshman season to earn him that honor. But there was an inkling that Carnell Tate would not be lurking in the shadows. And he has done exactly that. However, Ryan Day is looking for more production from the others. The depth has had little opportunity to shine amidst the heroics of these two. But that doesn’t mean they should be left to do the work alone.

Day implied that he looks to employ the depth more, in light of Quincy Porter’s breakout show against Wisconsin. “I think Carnell and Jeremiah need some of that as the season goes on,” he said in a recent presser. “It’s a long season. They need that depth. It’s important. The team needs it,” he added. Day also said that players like Porter, Myles Graham, and Bryson Rodgers “can help.” Non WRs like Max Klare have also pitched in as receivers. But the onus still falls on the remaining receivers to come out. Brandon Inniss is the only other WR who has hauled in more than 100 receiving yards.

Julian Sayin has struck up a balance with Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, and it’s working so far. However, there will be a time where he has to play with other receivers at Columbus. With the production for other receivers being so low, the load will then fall on Jeremiah Smith. The depth has to perform to help Ryan Day in the playoffs. Smith will surely be an elite choice when he decides to declare for the draft. But until then, the stage is set for Carnell Tate to wreak some more havoc.