Signed: Carnell Tate Gives Brian Hartline's Loaded Position Room Another Top-10 Wide Receiver

In IMG Academy’s Carnell Tate, Brian Hartline signs another borderline five-star pass catcher with the potential to help keep the Buckeye program at the forefront of the WRU discussion in college football for years to come. The No. 10 player at his position and No. 61 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, Tate made things official by signing his National Letter of Intent to play at Ohio State Wednesday.

For a Chicago native who has long had the Buckeye program in his crosshairs, putting pen to paper was a long time coming.

“All my life I wanted to go to Ohio State,” Tate told Eleven Warriors last April. “I grew up a Buckeye fan. It meant everything to me to get (an offer from) my dream school. My dreams are coming true.”

Tate transferred to IMG Academy ahead of his junior season and he’s turned heads on the national recruiting scene ever since. As a senior, Tate hauled in 37 passes for 750 yards and eight scores, and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the preseason. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Tate is a long, well-rounded, do-it-all playmaker on the outside, and he’s proven that time and time again over the past two years. Tate has also gotten opportunities in the slot and even played some DB this past year.

Initially set to announce a commitment in October 2021, Tate ultimately pushed his decision back and didn’t lock in a college destination for another eight months. During that time, Tennessee and Notre Dame emerged as serious contenders for Tate alongside Ohio State, with rumors swirling about lucrative NIL opportunities. 

But on June 20, Tate joined the fold in Columbus, committing to the program that many long thought had an inside track to land the heralded wide receiver recruit.

Tate was the 11th commit in Ohio State’s 2023 class and the second wideout, following the commitment of fellow Florida prospect Bryson Rodgers. Two more top-10 wide receivers in the class followed Tate, as both five-star talent Brandon Inniss and four-star receiver Noah Rogers entered the fray in the subsequent two days after his commitment.

Entering signing day, Tate was the fourth-highest-rated recruit in the Buckeyes’ 2023 class with only Inniss, Rogers and in-state offensive lineman Luke Montgomery ranking above him in the 247Sports composite.

While Tate is a four-star prospect in both the 247Sports composite and at On3, Rivals lists Tate as a five-star recruit, the No. 12 player in the country and the second-ranked wide receiver.