Carnell Tate seems like the leader in the clubhouse, but is it a sure thing he’s the Buckeyes second-best receiver this season?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here.
In the College Football Playoff era, the Buckeyes have always been at their best offensively when they have had multiple great receivers on the field. Look at the 2021 team for a prime example of that, when the Buckeyes had two first-round draft picks the following April in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, plus a first-round pick the year after in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
That receiving trio’s ability to stretch the field and stress opposing defenses was something we hadn’t seen much before that 2021 season from the Buckeyes. It’s something we have seen them try to replicate in the three seasons since, and Jeremiah Smith is only one season into what is already shaping up to be a legendary career.
But who is going to be Ohio State’s WR2 behind Smith this season? The All-American receiver is going to draw plenty of attention from opposing secondaries, so somebody else in the Buckeyes’ receiving room needs to step up in the event that Smith gets shut down in a game.
The first player I think of that could be the Buckeyes’ WR2 is Carnell Tate. The Chicago native has come a long way since arriving in Columbus ahead of the 2023 season, culminating with a career-high seven receptions for 87 yards in the CFP Semifinals against Texas.
Tate caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns last season, and that’s with playing alongside Jeremiah Smith and Emka Egbuka. The latter of those two is now in the NFL, so that’s going to, presumably, open up more target opportunities for Tate.
This is a player who got more and more productive as the season progressed last season, and he hopes to continue that stride into his junior season in 2025. Tate is certainly the Buckeyes’ most experienced receiver after Smith, and that’s what makes him poised to be their WR2.
Brandon Inniss is another viable option, but he hasn’t had a large enough role in the Buckeyes’ offense — yet — to get legitimate consideration for the Buckeyes’ WR2.
Make no mistake, though, Inniss is making progress. He caught 14 passes last year for 176 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown was the Buckeyes’ go-ahead score in their 20-13 win at Penn State. The Hollywood, Florida native is a former five-star recruit who was ranked by 247Sports as their No. 3 wide receiver in the country.
Does Inniss become who Tate was behind Egbuka and Smith as he plays behind Smith and Tate? That’s the most likely option.
Don’t forget about Max Klare at tight end. He could emerge as Ohio State’s No. 2 receiver even as a tight end.
A former standout at Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School, Klare is becoming one of the best tight ends in the country. He ranked ninth in the country amongst tight ends with 51 receptions last year, which was also third in the Big Ten. Klare’s 685 receiving yards were second in the Big Ten last year, and he put up those numbers while playing at Purdue.
Now, he’s coming to Ohio State, a program that has the opportunity to have the best offense in the country this season.
Regardless of whether Tate, Klare, Inniss, or even someone else becomes Ohio State’s WR2, this Buckeyes offense is going to be deep, versatile, and prolific in 2025. If one of the three aforementioned players takes a step forward and becomes prolific this season, that’s only going to give Smith more opportunities to make highlight reel plays.
They say football is a team game, and the Buckeyes’ wide receiver room will get the opportunity to embody that this season.