Denzel Burke had seven words that summed up the thoughts of Ohio State’s players and coaches on freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate.
“He’s been him since he got here,” Burke said.
Friday’s Cotton Bowl against Missouri will offer Tate a chance to prove exactly that.
Two years ago when Ohio State was playing Utah in the Rose Bowl, both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave opted out in preparation to be first-round selections in the 2022 NFL draft. That allowed Marvin Harrison Jr. to take the field and put up three touchdowns in a breakout close to his freshman season before ultimately becoming perhaps the greatest wide receiver in Ohio State history over the next two years.