Tennessee Titans fans are still getting to know Carnell Tate, the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and what they’re finding is a quiet, focused rookie who builds 10,000-piece Lego sets in his spare time and picks LeBron James as his GOAT.

On the field, the wide receiver has already flashed his abilities several times throughout OTAs, minicamp, and Day 1 of Titans training camp. He can go up and grab the football out of the air, make big plays, score touchdowns, and truly be a significant asset for Tennessee’s future. But away from the field, Tate is still a bit of a mystery to the Nashville media market.

From everything that’s been described, Tate is “boring” in the best way possible. That was the word his Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline used. He doesn’t have a big, outgoing, eccentric personality. He’s more of a quiet, reserved kind of guy. Stephanie Otey, who covered Tate at Ohio State, spoke with me this week about Tate as a person coming out of his shell, being a great teammate, a great leader, and just a great guy overall.

But who is he as a person when he’s not playing football? What’s he doing? We know things he doesn’t do. He doesn’t go out and party. 

So when Tate sat down with the Buck Reising Show on 104.5 The Zone after his first-ever NFL training camp practice, the conversation about his off-field interests turned genuinely entertaining.

Carnell Tate is a Lego connoisseur, and he’s not messing around

Using Buck Reising’s words, Tate is a “Lego connoisseur,” and the rookie confirmed it. 

The back and forth between Reising, Robert Walsh, and the Titans receiver was a highlight of the post-practice media availability.

When asked about the most expensive set he’s purchased, Tate didn’t hesitate.

“I got the Eiffel Tower,” Tate said. “It was over 10,000 (pieces).”

As for the time commitment on something like that, Tate broke it down.

“It probably took me like a good week,” Tate said. “Like nonstop, like hours . . . 3, 4 hours a day for a week.”

That level of focus and patience says something. I agree with Buck and don’t want to make too much out of Legos here, but I do think there is something unique about wanting to complete a task you start, even if it seems arduous and takes three or four hours at a time. 

Especially in this age of instant gratification, even when it comes to Tate never had a thought of the transfer portal when Ohio State kept filling the loaded receiver room. 

Tate sees Legos as his way to reset.

“It’s just my way to clear my mind, get away from everything else,” Tate said. “Just go out there, look at my iPad, do the Legos, and just turn some music on, get away from everybody else.”

What’s he listening to while building?

“I listen to everything . . . Drake, Gunna, Rod Wave, anything that’s new. Sometimes I just have to go out there and put on a random R&B playlist.”

This generation of athlete is bringing back things from the ’90s in a big way. Legos, sports cards, all of it. I’m 15 years older than Carnell Tate. I haven’t thought about a Lego set for longer than Tate’s been alive, to be honest. But between his Lego hobby and his interest in sports cards (a Titans fan brought Carnell Tate cards to his Kroger event earlier this offseason), the rookie is carving out his off-field identity in Nashville.

‘Tate it or hate it’ reveals more about Tennessee’s top pick

The Buck Reising Show played a new game with the rookie, a spin on the “high key or low key” game that became an Arden Key original when the Titans edge rusher would appear on the show. Shout out to Robert Walsh for crafting the name, and Lucas Panzica for leading the conversation: “Tate it or hate it.”

The highlights:

Country music? “Hate it.” Fair enough. Tate said it’s just not his speed, not something he grew up hearing. “Just not for me.”

Pre-planned touchdown celebrations? When they get complicated, hate it. Tate referenced his simple celebration from his junior year at Ohio State and said he prefers things that are organic rather than heavily choreographed.

LeBron the GOAT? “Tate it.” 

That raised some eyebrows given Tate is a Chicago native and Bulls fan, but he was honest about it. 

“I’ve never watched Jordan play, so I’m not going to disregard someone else’s opinion,” he said.

A generational thing, for sure.

Expanding the college football playoff from 12 teams? 

“Hate it. I think it’s good where it’s at.”

Tater tots? “Tate it.” 

Titans fans are going to enjoy getting to know this potential star. He’s quiet, he’s focused, he builds Lego skyscrapers, and he keeps it real. That’s the kind of personality that tends to let the play on the field do the talking.