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jake trotter
Columbus, Ohio — Colin Hurst knows what it’s like Ohio StateQuarterback of.
More than three years ago, Hurst quarterbacked the South Florida Express to the championship of a 7-on-7 tournament in Las Vegas, using future Ohio State starting receivers. carnell tate, Jeremiah Smith And Brandon Innis,
,A quarterback’s dream,, said Hurst, now an FCS starting quarterback for Presbyterian. ,julian sign Is an incredible quarterback. But having those three guys definitely helps.”
At the time, Innis was the most popular person. Smith was a rising force. But Tate, a late addition to a loaded team, proved to be a difference maker when it mattered most. Cam Newton-backed team going after Oregon’s quarterback dante mooreHurst passed to Tate for the winning touchdown in that Vegas title game, throwing a pass into the back of the end zone with less than a minute left.
Hurst said, “Cornell is one of those guys you can always count on.” “One of the nicest guys you’ll ever talk to. But when he got on the field, he embarrassed people. I knew that no matter how many corners the corner played, Carnell would eventually have a chance to get past him.”
The Buckeyes are counting on Tate – one of college football’s breakout stars – to once again come up in a big way as they chase back-to-back national titles, starting with the playoff opener against them. miami at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year’s Eve (7:30 pm ET, ESPN,
“Throughout my years working here, I’ve been patient,” Tate said. “The game comes only to those who work. My time has finally come.”
The spotlight did not come quickly for Tate. During his first two seasons in Columbus, he played a supporting role on a team with a future NFL first-round selection. Marvin Harrison Jr.And emeka egbukaLast year, Tate overtook Smith, a freshman sensation, Tate accepted the dirty work, turning into a tenacious perimeter blocker as others put up big statistics and grabbed headlines,
“He does everything the coaches ask him to do and he doesn’t complain about it,” Smith said.
This season, Tate has emerged as a star opposite Smith.
Tate averaged 83.8 receiving yards per game, which ranked seventh among Power 4 players, and he had nine touchdowns despite missing a year-ending game due to a lower body injury. Four ESPN NFL Draft analysts now list him as No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver available In the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Tate could extend Ohio State’s streak with a receiver taken in the first round to five consecutive years.
“I always knew how much talent he had and what he was capable of,” Harrison said. “It depends on the opportunity – and he’s getting that now.”
Brett Goetz, who founded Fort Lauderdale-based South Florida Express nearly two decades ago, immediately noticed Tate’s work ethic. Goetz wanted another receiver and asked his players if they had any suggestions. Innis had faced Tate in high school – Tate scored a touchdown in IMG Academy’s win over Innis American Heritage in the 2021 opener – and recommended him.
Hurst said that Tate was “straight business … almost like a military man,” the first one to arrive for breakfast or meetings.
When SFE went on the road for tournaments, players stayed up late playing video games. Tate asked Goetz if he could have his own room.
“He wanted to go to bed early so he could prepare and concentrate,” Goetz said. “There was always a different maturity at Cornell.”
By the time Tate scored that decisive touchdown in the final tournament of the year, Goetz knew that Tate’s combination of “size, speed, route running and ability to catch the ball” would eventually make him an “elite” receiver in college – even if it took time.
Goetz said, “Cornell was always great. But when you have Marv and Emeka, you have to wait your turn.” “Everybody’s feeling the holy man—, there’s another man [at Ohio State] Who has great potential. …Now he’s really been able to show who he really is as a player.”
Standing out on SFE wasn’t easy, either. The roster was loaded with stars, including USC standouts corn lemonThis year’s Biletnikoff Award winner could challenge Tate to be the first receiver off the board in the upcoming draft. miami freshman phenom Malachi Tony — who will have to slow down Ohio State in the playoff opener — was also part of the group.
“We had talent everywhere,” Tony said. “It was just like an all-star team.”
Goetz said Innis was one of the “best” 7-on-7 players he had ever seen. And Smith, who played in the slot at the time, was just beginning to grow into his 6-3, 225-pound frame.
Hurst said of Smith, “It’s kind of crazy to see how he’s evolved into this weird Megatron.” “But even at a young age, I could tell he was obviously going to be ridiculous.”
The SFE receiving corps will form the foundation of the Buckeyes’ passing attack. Tate, Innis and Smith once visited Ohio State with Goetz, a harbinger that they would team up again in college.
This season, with Tate and Smith on the outside and Innis in the slot, the Buckeyes have punished opposing defensive backfields. All three scored touchdowns on November 29, when the Buckeyes snapped a four-game losing streak to Michigan with an emphatic 27–9 victory in Ann Arbor.
In his first game back from injury, Tate outran the Michigan defense for a 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter, effectively putting the Wolverines away. It was Tate’s fifth touchdown grab of at least 40 yards this season, the second most in the country.
“I have improved in all aspects of my game,” Tate said, noting his increased ability to make competitive catches and shock opponents for big plays.
Smith, who is almost a year younger than Tate, admitted that he has looked up to him since their 7-on-7 days and had confidence in him last season even as he broke Ohio State’s freshman receiving record. Because Tate played every receiving position early in his career to fit into Ohio State’s offense, he has helped Smith adjust to the Buckeyes this season.
“I learned a lot from him,” Smith said. “He guided me… and taught me everything I needed to know.”
On the field, Tate has also lifted the Buckeyes offensively – putting pressure on Smith and forcing defenses to poison.
“You try to double me, you’re worried he’s going to hit you on the other side of the field,” Smith said. “It’s been exciting to see him go. I know what type of player he is – and I knew this year was definitely going to be his year.”
