Ohio State's Tate Skips Pro Day 40-Yard Dash

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate declined to rerun the 40-yard dash at his school's pro day on Wednesday, standing by his 4.53-second time from last month's NFL Scouting Combine and emphasizing his on-field production over raw speed metrics.

Tate, a projected top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, described the drill as overvalued during the event in Columbus, Ohio. "I definitely think it can be overvalued," he said, according to ESPN reporter Daniel Oyefusi. He pointed to successful NFL receivers Puka Nacua, who ran a 4.57 at his combine, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with an unofficial 4.48, as examples of players who have thrived without elite sprint times. "Like a couple of great NFL receivers right now like Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, like they probably didn't run the fastest of times, but they're the two best receivers in the league right now," Tate added. "It just depends on who's looking at it and how y'all want to take it."

Instead of focusing on the 40, Tate participated in position drills, running routes and catching passes from quarterback Julian Sayin. Scouts noted his precise cuts, body control, and reliable hands, traits that align with his college performance....