Carnell Tate: Ohio State's fifth straight first-round NFL Draft WR

When - not if - Carnell Tate hears his name called in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, it will mark five straight years that an Ohio State receiver has been selected on Day 1.

And it's not like the group that came before him has just filled out rosters.

After Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s heroics in the 2025 season, the Buckeyes' wide receiver cohort added a Super Bowl champion and Offensive Player of the Year to the list already packed with Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.

Here, we take a closer look at that run, why it’s happening, and why it might not be slowing down any time soon.

Ohio State's first-round WRs: By the numbers

Ohio State WRs who should have gone round one

If we expand the list to former Ohio State wideouts whose NFL production should have warranted a first-round pick, the list becomes even more impressive.

Carnell Tate: The next Ohio State NFL WR star?

Most mocks have Tate going in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. In ours, we predict the Commanders will select Tate seventh overall, giving Washington the enviable distinction of having a pair of Buckeyes at the same position.

Whether Tate does indeed add to Jayden Daniels' arsenal of pass catchers or not, his game-changing talent means he’s set up for success no matter where he lands.

Why 'Wide Receiver U' is just getting started

As much talent as the two lists above contain, the best may be yet to come.

A generational talent in the truest sense, Jeremiah Smith arrived at Ohio State as the top recruit in the country, promptly shattering freshman receiving records.

In the last two years, he has won a national title and is now on track to be the first receiver off the board in the 2027 draft, with scouts comparing his ceiling to Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

Remarkably, Smith won't be the last Buckeyes' wideout we'll hear from in the coming years.

Five-star prospect Chris Henry Jr., the son of late Bengals wideout Chris Henry, signed with the programme in December 2025.

As ESPN's top-ranked receiver in the 2026 class, the 6'5" Mater Dei product will join Smith in what is shaping up to be the most talented receiver room in college football.

Why are the Buckeyes an NFL WR factory?

Good recruiting helps, of course. But plenty of programmes land five-star receivers and watch them flounder in the pros.

Where Ohio State stands out is that by the time these guys leave Columbus, they know exactly what it takes to succeed in the NFL.

The footwork, the release, the understanding of leverage against press - none of that needs fixing when they arrive in the pros.

Brian Hartline, a former NFL receiver himself, deserves much of the credit. He served as the Buckeyes' wide receiver coach from 2018 to 2025 before capitalising on his success by taking the head coaching job at South Florida.

With offensive supremo Ryan Day still at the helm and Smith and Henry waiting in the wings, there's no reason to think the conveyor belt stops here.