Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State 

Height: 6-2

Weight: 192

Hands: 10 1/8″

Arms: 31 3/8″

40 yard dash: 4.53

2026 Age: 21

Breakout Age: 20 (JR)

NFL Comparison: Deandre Hopkins, George Pickens

Alex’s Scouting Notes 

• Long-levered, polished, smart and ultra-dependable outside receiver with length and late hands to separate and create easier windows for his quarterback on out routes and corners while also showing route-running burst to quickly navigate to soft spots in zones in the middle quadrants of the field on digs and drag routes – smooth operator who already plays like a pro with elite ball skills and who makes things easy on his quarterback 
• Highest passer rating when targeted in all of CFB in 2025 (151.8) 
• Zero drops in 2025; 35 of his 51 receptions in 2025 went for first downs
• 12th in all of CFB in 2025 in yards per route run (3.02) 
• Elite body control 
• Has proven to be a target earner even when having elite teammates vying for the football as well in Jeremiah Smith during 2025 and Smith plus Emeka Egbuka in 2024 – he was very good in both years but statistically was never the true alpha in his college offense, which is worth at least considering
• Academic All-American (3.50 GPA) 
• Had at least one reception in 37 of 39 games played at Ohio State 
• Soft, strong hands at the catch point; might be the best plucker of the football in this year’s class 
• Consistently excellent positioning; not the most physical, but shows play strength to come back and fight for underthrown or errant balls and tracking ability to re-adjust his framing in real-time to save the day 
• Despite a lack of elite vertical deep speed, has a knack for making long TD catches (32.5 yards average per receiving TD in 2025)
• Slight concerns about long-speed at the NFL level 
• Dealt with calf strain issues in 2025
• Comp: Deandre Hopkins 

Fantasy Outlook:

Will be selected near the top of 2026 dynasty rookie drafts, and depending on landing spot will have a shot to settle in as high as Round 5 or so of 12-team season-long and best-ball contests where he could present massive value pre-NFL draft if falling to a plum situation which could see him featured as a team’s alpha. One of the priority rookie picks in 2026, and likely consensus WR1. 

(Alex Dunlap)