Ohio State star says unthinkable when comparing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate and former LSU WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson
Comparing anyone to the 2019 LSU star receiver tandem of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson is pretty unfair. That Tigers team was arguably the best offense of all time, boasting two future NFL Hall of Fame-level receivers, a breakout Joe Burrow who put together arguably the best season of any passer ever, and first-round running […]
Comparing anyone to the 2019 LSU star receiver tandem of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson is pretty unfair. That Tigers team was arguably the best offense of all time, boasting two future NFL Hall of Fame-level receivers, a breakout Joe Burrow who put together arguably the best season of any passer ever, and first-round running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
They had the high-volume offense needed to run up the score often and the talent to translate to the NFL immediately. Chase and Jefferson combined for 195 receptions, 3,320 yards, and 38 touchdowns. So, how could the Ohio State duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate be better?
It’s an argument Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs is willing to have and make the case for. He did so on the Downs 2 Business podcast with his brother, Josh. This came after they got quarterback Julian Sayin to talk about the differences between Smith and Tate as rare talents.
Caleb Downs prefers Ohio State WR duo to LSU star WRs
Downs went so far as to say to his brother, “You can lowkey give the nod to Jeremiah and Carnell,” when discussing the battle between Smith and Tate against Jefferson and Chase. While it’s all but a lock that the Buckeyes tandem is drafted higher on average over the next two NFL drafts, the success of the LSU boys is hard to compete with.
Jefferson and Chase had untouchable production in both college and thus far in the NFL, and played in a higher-tempo offense. Still, Downs is taking his boys vs. the field.
“Carnell Tate, first-round talent for sure. Jeremiah Smith, first-round talent for sure,” Josh Downs started the conversation. Caleb responded, “I haven’t even though about that. Tough one. You know where Ja’Marr and Justin are right now and that’s an elite level. You gotta go based off college. You can lowkey give the nod to Jeremiah and Carnell.”
Josh then cut him off, pleading, “Nooooooo.”
But Caleb added to his statement. “If they keep playing at the level they’re at…I’m not talking right now.” Josh wasn’t having it, though. He ended the conversation, saying, “What Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase did at LSU was insane.”
While most others and I would agree that no one can touch what Jefferson and Chase accomplished, making them an all-time pair, we can also say the Buckeyes have the closest thing to that duo. Hopefully, we’ll see the Buckeyes open up the offense even more because it’s wonderfully entertaining seeing Sayin sling it to these alien athletes.
