Tennessee Vols will have to pay up if they want to have a shot at swiping WR Carnell Tate from Ohio State
Rumors have swirled over the last few weeks that Ohio State Buckeyes sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate could enter the NCAA transfer portal. And there's at least some validity to those rumors. On3's Pete Nakos reported on Friday that Tate is "commanding over $1 million" as a transfer target. Tate hasn't entered the transfer portal yet. […]
Rumors have swirled over the last few weeks that Ohio State Buckeyes sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate could enter the NCAA transfer portal.
And there's at least some validity to those rumors.
On3's Pete Nakos reported on Friday that Tate is "commanding over $1 million" as a transfer target.
Tate hasn't entered the transfer portal yet.
Ohio State, according to Nakos, is "currently going through the process of what it would take financially to keep Tate".
If Tate enters the portal, the Tennessee Vols are a program that would likely have interest.
Tennessee was one of the Tate's finalist as a recruit in 2022.
At the time, Tate said that NIL money wasn't the determining factor in his decision to commit to Ohio State.
“It (NIL) hasn’t mixed up the thought process for me at all,” said Tate in 2022 after committing to Ohio State. “Because I know the big bucks come at the end when you go to the league. I don’t think NIL money can touch the league money as of right now. I know that picking money over development won’t get you into the right spot. Because the NIL money doesn’t help you get to the league.”
Tate finished the 2024 season with 52 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns while playing behind true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and senior Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka is moving on the NFL which means Tate would be the No. 2 wide receiver (behind Smith) for the Buckeyes if he returns in 2025.
The Vols have a big need at wide receiver. And Tate is a player that would instantly give Tennessee's wide receiver group a huge boost (he'd start alongside some combination of Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, and Chris Brazzell).
But I'm skeptical that Tate will ever enter the portal. Leaving a great situation like the one he's in at Ohio State would be a surprise. But you never say never in this age of college football. If Tate decides to hit the portal, the Vols should absolutely go all-in on trying to bring him to Rocky Top — even if it'll take at least $1 million to get it done.
