Carnell Tate X
Born January 19, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised by his mother Ashley
Griggs in West Chicago, a neighborhood marked by heavy drug-abuse and violence. In July 2023,
Ashley was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in West Garfield Park, Chicago — a tragedy
Tate has publicly credited for hardening his resolve.
HIGH SCHOOL: Marist HS (Chicago) as a freshman (28 rec / 444 yds / 5 TDs); sophomore year
cancelled by COVID. Transferred to IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) for junior year. As a senior:
averaged 20.3 yards per reception with 750 yards and 8 TDs in just 8 games. Consensus 5-star;
Rivals #7 overall in 2023.
COLLEGE: Committed to Ohio State in June 2022 over Notre Dame, Michigan, and LSU. Enrolled
early in January 2023. Rotational as a frosh behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka;
increased role as a sophomore. Featured WR1 in 2025 post-Egbuka — his most productive season.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Round 1 top-10. PFF's WR1 and Jeremiah's WR1. Best pure X-receiver in the
class. Giants at #5 are a schematic fit. Key question: top-end speed — has he run sub-4.45
on the clock?
Scouting Profile
Combine / Pro Day Measurables (reported)
| 40-yard dash | 4.45 |
| Vertical jump (in) | 38.5 |
| Broad jump | 10'5" |
| Bench press (225 reps) | 14 reps |
| 3-cone drill | 6.95 |
| 20-yard shuttle | 4.15 |
| Wingspan | 76.5" |
| Hand size | 9 3/8" |
Numbers compiled from NFL Scouting Combine results, Pro Day box scores, and beat-writer reports. "Reported" means cross-referenced against multiple sources; verify on nfl.com/combine for definitive marks.
College Career Stats
- 2023 OSU (Fr): 18 rec, 264 yds, 1 TD — rotational behind Harrison Jr. + Egbuka
- 2024 OSU (So): 52 rec, 733 yds, 4 TD — CFP Champion role
- 2025 OSU (Jr): 87 rec, 1,205 yds, 11 TD — featured WR1 post-Egbuka
Strengths
- Polished route runner — squeaky-clean technique vs press and zone
- Elite separator on intermediate routes
- Strong hands — attacks the ball at the high point
- YAC threat — breaks arm tackles cleanly
- Contested-catch winner — boxes out smaller defenders
Weaknesses / Areas to Develop
- Long speed is good not great — won't run away from elite NFL CBs
- Catch radius limited for a 6-2 X-receiver
- Press release vs longer NFL CBs is unproven
NFL Pro Comparison
Amon-Ra St. Brown — precise, polished YAC monster who wins from any alignment with route savvy and toughness
Outcome Range
- Floor: 1,000-yard WR2 with Pro Bowl in a good year
- Median: Multi-time Pro Bowl WR1 — top-10 at the position
- Ceiling: All-Pro alpha; 1,400+ yard seasons
Scheme Fit
West Coast / Shanahan tree where he can win from X, Z, or slot; ideal for a McVay / Kyle Shanahan / Ben Johnson offense
Pre-Draft Visits
Top-30 visits with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders
Signature College Game
2025 vs Oregon: 12 rec, 187 yards, 3 TDs in a 38-31 OSU win — announced himself as WR1 of the class
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