CINCINNATI, Ohio – Not often does the top high school program in the country come to Ohio, but IMG Academy (FL) did just that last Friday. The Ascenders brought an all-star squad of future-FBS football players to town, including top Ohio State wide receiver target Carnell Tate.
With IMG in town, it also meant a lot of college coaches would be in attendance after the dead period ended on Sept. 1. That gave Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline a chance to see Tate live, and by the end of the game head coach Ryan Day joined him on the sideline. Having both of them on the sideline was no doubt something Tate enjoyed.
“It felt great being able to have him out here to watch my game for the first time, to show him what I’m working with.” Tate said of Day. “It meant a lot to showcase what I’m working with in front of the head coach.”
Even though Tate only got one shot throughout the game to make a play he made the most of it by scoring a touchdown, which is always Tate’s goal.
“Always, whenever you get the chance to make a play you gotta make a play and that was my chance so I made the play,” he said.
Despite only getting the one target throughout the game, Tate did not seem to care very much. All he cares about is his team when they take the field.
“The team always comes before me, so whenever I get the chance to make a play for the team I will,” he said. “And blocking is just how you get the ball as a receiver.”
When you combine his blocking along with his receiving traits, there is a strong case to be made that Tate is the number one receiver in the country. A case the four-star receiver is willing to make.
“I felt like that and I have shown that,” he told Buckeye Scoop. “I’m the number one wide receiver in the country. I mean I can do it all, I can play slot, get sweeps, I can do it all, returner, anything.”
As for Tate’s recruitment, he is still working on cutting down his list, and with his commitment date approaching, he says nothing is set yet.
“It’s not cemented,” he said. “I’m still working through a top five right now, so when Oct. 8th comes everything will be cemented.”
With his Oct. 8 commitment date quickly approaching, both Ohio State and Notre Dame will continue to make their case as to why they are the best fit for Tate. In the meantime, he will just continue to prove why he is the country’s top wide receiver on the field.