Carnell Tate: Mom| Dad| What happened to| High school| 40 Time

Introduction

When you hear the name Carnell Tate, you’re hearing about one of college football’s emerging wide-receiver stars. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior at Ohio State Buckeyes is already turning heads with his growth, versatility, and the journey he’s taken from Chicago high school standout to Big Ten playmaker. Below, we dive into his background, family, what has happened so far in his career, his high-school path, and the highly-discussed 40-yard dash time that scouts and fans alike monitor.

Early Life & Family: What Happened To His Mom & Dad?

Carnell Tate was born on January 19, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois. His family background provides context to the resilience and drive he displays on the field.

Parents & Family

• His mother is listed as Ashley Griggs and his father as Sean Tate.

• Details beyond these names are limited in the public domain — for example, deeper information about his dad’s background, what he does professionally, or his involvement in Carnell’s athletic journey are not broadly publicised.

Tragedy & Resilience

• One significant challenge: his mother, Ashley Griggs, was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Chicago.

• This event shaped opinion of Carnell’s character: many observers note his mental and emotional resilience given the circumstances.

What This Means for the Player

Facing such tragedy so early underscores why many believe his maturity and motivation on the field are elevated. It often matters less what the route tree or statistics are and more how someone handles adversity. Carnell’s story reflects someone who has faced real life beyond the stadium and continues to grow.

High School Career: Marist → IMG Academy

Carnell’s high school timeline is instructive: from his hometown of Chicago to the national stage.

Marist High School (Chicago, IL)

• Carnell attended Marist High School in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighbourhood for his freshman and sophomore years.

• His sophomore season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; recruiting evaluators noted interruptions in his on-field development.

Transition to IMG Academy

• For his junior and senior years, Carnell transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida — a move many top-level recruits make to face national competition and access top coaching.

• At IMG he recorded near 750 receiving yards in eight games as a senior in 2022.

• He emerged as a five-star recruit, rated among the nation’s elite wide-receivers for the class of 2023.

What Stood Out in High School

• His physical size (6-3) combined with fluidity in routes and contested-catch ability.

• Evaluators did note, however, that while technically sound, his “long speed” (in measured sprint times) was still developing. For example: “Will need to continue adding/improving his burst and long speed as he has yet to run a verified 40-yard dash faster than 4.72 seconds.”

• That criticism speaks less to a lack of talent and more to the fine line between being an excellent high-school receiver and projecting as an elite college/NFL prospect.

College Career at Ohio State

After high school, Carnell committed to Ohio State in June 2022 and enrolled in January 2023.

Freshman Season (2023)

• In his freshman year he appeared in 13 games, had 18 receptions for 264 yards (14.7 average) and one touchdown.

• For a true freshman in a program like OSU’s wide-receiver room, that’s a solid baseline.

Sophomore Season (2024)

• He made a bigger jump: 52 catches for 733 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season.

• His average yards per catch: about 14.1.

• Notable game: returning to his hometown on Nov 16, he caught two touchdown passes in a 31-7 win.

2025 & Beyond

• As of recent logs, he had 34 receptions for 587 yards and 6 touchdowns in 7 games (as of mid-season data) which shows upward trajectory.

• Projection: He is seen as a future top receiver, possibly first round in the NFL Draft down the road.

What Makes Him Stand Out at College

• Length & size: At 6-3 he has the frame to win contested catches and be a vertical threat.

• Route running & polish: Scouts mention that while his raw sprint speed might lag the elite burners, his route-running ability and hands make up for it.

• Improvement curve: Year-by-year growth is promising.

• High ceiling: Considering his age (born in 2005) and already solid performance, many feel he has room to become a top-tier receiver.

40-Yard Dash Time: What’s the Real Number?

One of the metrics scouts, fans and draft analysts obsess over is the 40-yard dash time. For a receiver, it helps quantify straight-line speed, though it’s not everything.

What the Data Say

• According to an article on Sportskeeda, his 40-yard dash time is listed at 4.58 seconds.

• The NFL Draft Buzz profile lists his 40-yard dash at 4.60 seconds (marked as 18% percentile) for the WR position.

• DraftScout.com lists a projected “40 Low: 4.40 / 40 Time: 4.48 / 40 High: 4.55”.

• On3’s scouting notes, however, state: “has yet to run a verified 40-yard dash faster than 4.72 seconds.”

How to Interpret This

• The varied numbers suggest there isn’t a universally verified “combine style” 40-yard dash for Carnell yet — speed times vary depending on timing method (hand-timer vs electronic), surface, competition, and whether it was “off-season” or “in-season”.

• A time in the ~4.5-4.6 range for a 6-3 wide-receiver is respectable. It may not be elite “4.3-4.4” burner territory, but when paired with size, route skills, and contested catch ability it can translate well to production.

• Some scouts emphasise that game speed (how fast a player moves in live plays) matters more than just the pure 40-yard dash number. One analyst notes: “He’s deceptively fast, but not a burner, as his game speed is better than his 40-time.”

• For Carnell, the focus might be less about shaving off hundredths of seconds and more about refining explosion, first-step quickness, and maintaining speed after the catch.

Why It’s Important

• The 40-yard dash is often used as a comparative benchmark among wide-receivers. Elite prospects might run in the low 4.3s or 4.4s.

• For Carnell, if he improves the speed component while maintaining his route-running, catching ability and size, his NFL draft stock could rise significantly.

• For fans and draft watchers, seeing a “verified” excellent 40-time can change perceptions.

Why Carnell Tate Matters & What’s Ahead

What He Brings to His Team

• At Ohio State, his combination of size, production and improvement make him a pivotal piece in a high-powered offense.

• His ability to catch contested balls and run precise routes make him a difficult matchup.

• He’s stepping into a legacy of top receivers for Ohio State, and his growth suggests he can be among the next generation to shine.

What Scouts and Analysts Are Watching

• Speed and explosion: beyond just the 40-yard dash, how he explodes off the line and accelerates away from defenders.

• Improvement in breakaway speed: once he catches the ball, how fast he transitions into open field.

• Consistency in production: can he maintain high catch totals, yardage totals, and touchdown counts year-to-year?

• NFL readiness: his physicality, ability to block (as receivers often need to), and durability.

• Draft trajectory: Many mock drafts currently project him as a first-round pick if he continues to develop.

What’s Next?

• For the remainder of his college career, likely in the 2025-2026 seasons, Carnell will aim to refine speed, polish his game, and dominate at a high level to solidify his draft stock.

• If he stays healthy and productive, his name will be frequently mentioned when NFL scouts discuss “big frame + contested catch” receivers.

• Off the field, his background and resilience add character value that teams often appreciate.

Key FAQ About Carnell Tate

Conclusion

Carnell Tate is more than just athletic numbers or highlight plays. He represents a body of work and a story: from Chicago high school, through a national prep program, into one of the storied college football programs in America. He has the physical attributes (size, decent speed), the production (increasing each season), and the intangible resilience (family background, adversity faced) that make scouts take notice.

His 40-yard dash time may not yet scream “elite burner,” but the whole package is compelling. If he continues refining his game—particularly his burst, separation, and top-end speed—his next step into the NFL looks very promising.