Former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate makes a strong claim about his NFL comparison.
Former Buckeyes' wide receiver Carnell Tate is already turning heads in the NFL just a few short months into his career.
Tate was creeping in the shadows during nearly his entire time at Ohio State. As a freshman, he was deep on the depth chart that was led by Marvin Harrison Jr. Then, in year two, he was pinned behind Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. In his final year, he was still in the shadow of Jeremiah Smith.
He was never the first option at any point in his career at Ohio State, but it didn't matter; he still was able to show just how good he is and can be.
Last year for the Buckeyes, Tate was as good as it could get. If he didn't come down with a significant injury midway through the season, then his numbers would have been even better. Instead, he had to miss three games, but he still put up 875 yards on 51 catches for nine touchdowns.
He was amazing for the Buckeyes and elevated himself to the point where he was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Early returns out of camp show that Tate has adjusted quite well to the NFL game. This isn't a surprise to Buckeye fans, as we have seen it for years and knew that it didn't matter that he was never a No. 1 option; he has everything that a wide receiver needs to be at the next level to be successful.
He was asked who his NFL comparison is and his answer, Davante Adams, is perfect.
Tate has the perfect body type to play wide receiver. He actually resembles CeeDee Lamb a bit more than Adams from a physical standpoint. He stands at a slender 6'3", weighing 190 pounds.
He isn't an imposing figure but he is a technical killer.
He is such a smooth and effortless athlete. He gets in and out of routes without breaking stride at all, and his quickness is rare for a guy of his size. His superpower is his route-running ability and his catch radius. If the ball is close to him, he is coming down with it, no questions asked.
He is a natural hands catcher and that sets him apart.
This exact description goes for Davante Adams. The way that they both play the game is a spitting image of each other, and if Tate can be even half the player that Adams is, he will be in this league a long time.
The best part about Tate's situation is that he and Cam Ward are set to work together for a very long time. Tate is in his rookie year while Ward is entering year two in Tennessee. They are a true match made in Heaven and could flip Tennessee around quickly.
