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Carnell Tate Makes Decision On Ohio State Future After Receiving NIL Transfer Offers

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jan 25, 2025 3:05 PM ET

Ohio State is facing a bit of a problem at wide receiver this offseason as their two top wideouts that they expect to have back in 2025, freshman Jeremiah Smith and sophomore Carnell Tate, are receiving lucrative NIL offers to transfer.

Smith is reportedly being offered upwards of $4.5 million to leave Columbus, Ohio for an undisclosed college football program. Tate is also being offered a significant financial incentive to leave, with On3 Sports reporting that he's been offered over $1 million to leave.

While Smith's future with the team appears slightly uncertain, Tate's is reportedly a lot more clear. On3 Sports reported on Saturday that Tate is expected to return to Ohio State in 2025 in spite of the lucrative NIL offer.

"Wide receiver Carnell Tate is expected to return to Ohio State next season, per On3’s Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong. On Friday, Nakos reported that outside parties had tampered with Tate, who has not entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Tate was reportedly commanding offers of up to $1 million," the outlet reported.

NEWS: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate is returning to Columbus amid Transfer Portal speculation, @SWiltfong_ & @PeteNakos_ reporthttps://t.co/mGhRnf3hr5 pic.twitter.com/YDLDrFHQ3F
— On3 (@On3sports) January 25, 2025

Tate was the Buckeyes No. 3 wide receiver in 2024, finishing the season with 52 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns.

But with No. 2 wideout Emeka Egbuka declaring for the draft this week, Tate is now the next man up and expected to be an every-down wide receiver for the Buckeyes in 2025, and possibly even 2026.

That in itself might make the prospect of staying at Ohio State significantly better for Tate. His production - and NFL Draft stock - is probably more likely to skyrocket as even the No. 2 wide receiver at Ohio State any almost anywhere else.

Case in point: The past three NFL Drafts alone have seen four Buckeyes wide receivers go in the first round - all in the top 20.

Plus Tate has the added bonus of having a chance to be a back-to-back national champion at the same school. Now that's something that he wouldn't be able to achieve almost anywhere else.

Do you think Tate should have taken the reported offer and left, or did he make the right move by staying?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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