This Ohio State Wide Receiver had a breakout performance against Nebraska

The Ohio State Buckeyes were on the brink of a possible upset against the Nebraska Cornhuskersbut offensive coordinator Chip Kelly had an unsung hero to propel the Buckeyes to a victory.

Former five-star wide receiver Carnell Tate exploded onto the scene during Saturday’s game, finishing with a career-high 102 receiving yards on four catches. He would lead all Ohio State pass catchers in receiving yards against the Cornhuskers for the first time in his collegiate career.

The dynamic one-two punch of Ohio State running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson were shockingly quiet against Nebraskaallowing the highly touted receiver to shine in Week 9. Tate put the Buckeyes on the board late in the first quarter with an electric 40-yard receiving touchdown.

The young wideout hasn’t seen much action for most of the season as the sophomore has been overshadowed by Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. The second-year pass catcher has recorded 19 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. While he may be the third option for the Buckeyes’ passing attack, Tate has shown himself to be a talented receiver.

After finishing his freshman season with 17 catches and 260 receiving yards, many believed the Chicago native would eventually step into a bigger role at Ohio State in 2024. Quarterback Will Howard, however, has favored both Egbuka and Smith this season.

While he may be the third option for the Buckeyes, Tate’s combination of smooth route running and explosive playmaking skills has allowed him to play a respectable role on offense this season.