Ohio State's star wide receiver has questionable Combine, but he is the exact replica of NFL star CeeDee Lamb.
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate had a decent NFL Combine last weekend in Indianapolis. He came largely considered to be the No. 1 receiver in this draft, definitely top-two. He is leaving it in the same spot, but not after a little questioning.
Tate's lone blemish to his resume is the fact that he posted a 4.53 40-yard dash on Saturday. He answered questions well, he presumably interviewed well, but that 40-yard dash was a touch slow. It didn't help that his two teammates, both linebackers, punched their tickets at 4.46 each.
Some considered Tate's 40-yard result a tarnish to his resume, but will ruin his stock?
There was an initial shock wave that went through the NFL community, but once the dust settled, people were reminded that Tate was never a burner.
Tate's game is not running faster than you; it's killing you with routes and an unbelievable ability to catch the football. It might remind you of several other former Ohio State wide receivers who play the position better than anyone.
However, Tate's doppleganger isn't Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Chris Olave; it's Dallas Cowboys' star CeeDee Lamb.
The comparisons between the two wide receivers are pretty spot on. From a measurables perspective, Tate stands at 6'3 and a slim 190 pounds. Lamb, on the other hand, stands at 6-foot-2 and 200 lbs.
The two play the position very similarly. Tate and Lamb both run with a very straight-up style; they ooze with confidence, and they can do anything on the field. They are just as likely to convert a 3rd and 5 with a tough contested catch, just as they are to take a post route 80 yards to the house.
Now, the questions surfaced after Tate's "slow" 40-yard dash, and just a few seconds of research will tell you that Lamb himself also ran a 4.50 40. The two are just about spitting images of each other, and Lamb has turned in a pretty nice career so far.
Lamb has been the focal point of the Cowboys' offense for his entire career. He has had just one season in Dallas with less than 1,000 yards receiving, and that was his rookie season, where he finished with 935 yards and five scores.
His best year came in 2023, where he finished 135 catches, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns to go along with 87 total first down conversions.
Lamb was drafted with the No. 17 overall pick and, with hindsight being 20/20, if 2020 were re-drafted, he would absolutely be a top-five pick in that class.
Regardless of what you think after the NFL Combine, Carnell Tate is going to be a force to be reckoned with at the next level, and whoever gets him is getting a star of a player.