On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Gap narrowing for Carnell Tate

Chicago (Ill.) IMG Academy wide receiver Carnell Tate has been one of Ohio State‘s biggest priorities in the 2023 class. And he’s been considered a Buckeyes lean across the recruiting industry for the better part of the past year.

OSU has been one of the schools recruiting him the longest, and though he plays his high school ball in Florida, Tate is a Midwest kid who has developed an immensely strong relationship with receivers coach Brian Hartline. But the five-star is also one of the country’s most prized prospects in the junior class. And he has received the red carpet treatment everywhere he has been.

The race is tightening

The latest school to host him on its campus was Tennessee, which had him in Knoxville this past weekend for an official visit. And while the Buckeyes were the overwhelming favorites to land him heading into the weekend — according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine — the gap is closing.

A week ago, the RPM gave the Buckeyes a 96.1 percent chance of securing his commitment. Today, it has dropped all the way to 53.9 percent. Meanwhile, both Tennessee (36.9 percent) and Notre Dame (7.7 percent) have jumped up in the race.

The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish have hosted him the most of any schools. Tate has taken more than a dozen trips to those two combined. But he has now visited Tennessee three times since November, and this weekend was a massive one for the Vols. In addition to Tate, five-star quarterback commit Nico Iamaleava was on campus. Iamaleava said previously that getting Tate and four-star wideout Kyler Kasper — another visitor last weekend — to join him in Knoxville was going to be a major priority.

No other visits are currently scheduled for Tate, who saw the Buckeyes on April 1 and tripped to Notre Dame in March. He is expected to make a commitment this summer.

Carnell Tate Scouting Summary

“Well-rounded receiver with technical savvy and large catch radius. Has very long arms and big hands. Highly coordinated with the ability to track, adjust and high-point the football in contested situations. Has shown some encouraging route-running skills. Doubles as a dangerous return man due to his change of direction and open-field vision. A good athlete with play speed, though not quite as fast as some of his peers in a combine setting.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings