Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s wide receiver room, long the gold standard of college football, enters the 2026 season in the middle of its most significant transition in years. The program’s remarkable streak of first-round wide receivers appears likely to continue with Carnell Tate’s declaration for the 2026 NFL Draft, but his departure also accelerates a reshaping of the entire position group.
Tate leaves Columbus after evolving from a promising freshman contributor into one of the nation’s elite receivers. He emerged immediately in a loaded 2023 room, then climbed into a featured role in 2024, and finally broke out as a true star in 2025 with 51 catches, 875 yards and nine touchdowns in just 11 games. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Tate combined NFL size with high-end production, highlighted by an elite 85.7 percent contested-catch rate on passes from Julian Sayin. His performances against Minnesota and Wisconsin showcased his ability to take over games, and his decision to declare positions him as Ohio State’s next likely first-round receiver, extending a lineage that includes Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
Tate’s exit, however, comes at a moment when the rest of the wide receiver depth chart is also in motion. Each of Ohio State’s top three backup receivers from last season — Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham and Bryson Rodgers — have entered the transfer portal, with Damarion Witten joining them. Porter’s decision is particularly notable given his five-star status in the 2025 class, though injuries and limited opportunities kept him from breaking into the rotation as a freshman. With the Buckeyes now pursuing proven portal options to replace Tate’s production, these departures reflect the competitive reality of a room that recruits at the highest level.
Amid the turnover, Ohio State’s foundation remains anchored by Jeremiah Smith, who made it clear he is staying in Columbus despite being one of the most valuable players in college football. Smith has already amassed 163 catches, 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons and will now be the centerpiece of the offense. Brandon Inniss is expected to return as the other established starter, while five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. arrives with the pedigree to challenge for immediate playing time, much like Smith did two years earlier. Behind them, young receivers Phillip Bell, Bodpegn Miller and De’zie Jones will compete with incoming freshmen Jerquaden Guilford, Brock Boyd and Jaeden Ricketts to establish the next layer of depth.
For new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, the challenge and opportunity are clear. The room is losing proven production, but the raw talent level remains as high as anywhere in the country. With Ohio State aggressively pursuing at least one impact transfer to complement Smith and Inniss, the Buckeyes are positioned not for a rebuild, but for another evolution of the receiver factory that has become one of the defining strengths of the program.
For anyone wanting to stay on top of every departure and arrival, The OHIO Podcast has a Transfer Portal Tracker so that no one will miss any players leaving or coming to Ohio State via the transfer portal in 2026. Just click on the Tracker above and you will be taken to the portal hub.
