One of Ohio State’s best receivers won’t enter the transfer portal, and that news will surely disappoint a portion of Penn State fans.
Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong of On3Sports reported Friday night that Carnell Tate will not be entering the portal amid speculation.
NEWS: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate is returning to Columbus amid Transfer Portal speculation, @SWiltfong_ & @PeteNakos_ report🌰https://t.co/mGhRnf3hr5 pic.twitter.com/YDLDrFHQ3F
— On3 (@On3sports) January 25, 2025
Had Tate entered the portal, Penn State fans would have wanted him bad, and it’s probably fair to assume the school would pursued him.
In a receivers room that featured superstars in Jeremiah Smith (1,315 yards, 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions) and Emeka Egbuka (1,011 yards, 10 touchdowns on 81 receptions), Tate still managed to put up solid numbers. He ended the 2024 season with 733 yards and four touchdowns on 52 receptions.
PENN STATE NEEDS RECEIVERS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Marques Hagans
Penn State needs help at receiver. Even with the team adding Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devonte Ross (Troy) out of the transfer portal, Penn State would probably be wise to get another receiver. A team that didn’t complete a pass to a receiver in a College Football Playoff semifinal could use whatever help is available, and the problem predates the 2024 season.
Here are what Penn State’s top receivers have done since Jahan Dotson— who eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2021– played his last college game:
- 2022: Parker Washington (46 catches, 611 yards, two TD)
- 2023: KeAndre Lambert-Smith (53 catches, 673 yards, four TD)
- 2024 (so far): Harrison Wallace III (46 catches, 720 yards, four TD).
Penn State’s top pass-catcher this season is Tyler Warren (88 catches, 1,062 yards, six TD). But because Warren plays tight end, he’s not part of this conversation.
PSU’s receivers made some strides this season. Three WRs have had games of 100+ yards, whereas last season, only Lambert-Smith— who now plays for Auburn— accomplished that feat. But considering Penn State’s second-leading receiver, Omari Evans, had 415 yards and 116 of those came against a Kent State team that went 0-12, it’s probably fair to say there’s work to be done.
Wallace and Evans are both gone now, with Wallace transferring to Ole Miss and Evans to Washington. So the WR room is going to look different next season.
TEAMS WANTED HIM
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Wide Receiver Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates during the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Oregon Ducks College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2025, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
Hours before word got out that Tate is staying at Ohio State, Nakos reported that a school had offered Tate more than a million dollars. Which specific school it was hasn’t been disclosed but that report does show that Tate was in demand.
Penn State plays Ohio State Nov. 1 in Columbus.
