Ohio State Buckeyes star given puzzling label from NFL draft analyst ahead of the 2025 season

Ohio State is pumping out wide receiver talent like no other program, thanks to wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. What Hartline has accomplished in Columbus is nothing short of special.

It was Marvin Harrison Jr. two drafts ago and Emeka Egbuka this past April. The Buckeyes are consistently producing first-round wideouts. Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Garrett Wilson are also products of Hartline’s development.

The Buckeyes could very well have another first-round wideout next April, yet for some reason, he’s being labeled an “under-the-radar” player—though he absolutely shouldn’t be.

ESPN recently labeled Carnell Tate as a “sleeper” or “under-the-radar player,” but that designation doesn’t fit

In a recent piece from ESPN, NFL scouts gave their takes on players who could generate more buzz down the line. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate was included on that list—wrongly so. Tate is a former five-star recruit who is no “sleeper” to NFL evaluators. He was a legitimate weapon for the Buckeyes last season.

“I’m all-in on Tate,” one scout said via ESPN. “He’s big, but his technical ability as a route runner is impressive. He’s really good at generating separation with his size and his start-stop ability. He’s a really good WR2 in the pros.”

“The 6-foot-3, 191-pound Tate has totaled 70 receptions for 997 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons, and expectations are much higher for him in 2025. He has the tools to meet—and exceed—them.” — Matt Miller, ESPN

Tate recorded 264 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman in 2023—a strong season by Ohio State standards. Not many freshmen in Columbus outside of rare talents like Jeremiah Smith have topped that mark. Last season, Tate was the Buckeyes’ No. 3 option and still produced 733 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The Chicago native is a fluid route runner at 6-foot-3 and could become Ohio State’s No. 2 option behind Smith in 2025. He’s next in line to become a 1,000-yard receiver and a potential first-round pick.

Tate has looked like the next up after Egbuka as Ohio State’s next first-rounder for some time, then Smith is to follow. After a strong sophomore campaign, he’s proven himself on college football’s biggest stage and is poised to take an even bigger leap in 2025.