Ohio State’s pipeline to the NFL is running hot again, and two former Buckeyes are already making noise in their rookie seasons.
Carnell Tate and Davison Igbinosun are each showing early that they belong at the pro level, even if their teams are headed in very different directions. Individually, though, both players are stacking up strong first-year production and looking like some of the better rookies at their positions.
Tate has wasted no time validating the hype that followed him into the league. The Titans took him fourth overall in last April’s NFL Draft, a selection that left plenty of teams in the top 10 wishing he had slipped to them instead. That kind of draft capital usually comes with pressure, but Tate has looked every bit the part so far.
What stands out most about Tate is his work at the catch point. He thrives in traffic, winning contested balls in the kind of tight coverage that makes quarterbacks trust a receiver for years. That was a calling card at Ohio State, and it is carrying over immediately to the NFL.
The Titans, for their part, have no reason to regret the pick. Tate has been giving them what they expected and then some.
Igbinosun’s start has come in a different setting, but the impact has been just as clear. The second-round corner has quickly become one of the steadier pieces in a Buffalo secondary that has had plenty of trouble defending the pass.
Buffalo’s pass defense has been struggling, and that reality has put Igbinosun in plenty of high-pressure situations early on. He has handled those moments well, and the numbers back it up: he leads all rookie defenders with seven passes defended this season.
He is not spotless, but his physical traits give him a real edge. His length helps him close ground quickly and get his hands in passing lanes before receivers can finish the play.
For Buckeyes fans, none of this feels surprising. Ohio State keeps feeding the NFL, and Tate and Igbinosun are already proving why that reputation keeps growing.
In Other News...
Ohio State Heads Into USC With Key Availability Still Unsettled
Ohio States first injury report ahead of USC offered a clearer picture of the Buckeyes health, and it was not a particularly comforting one. Quarterback Julian Sayin was listed as out indefinitely, while safety Leroy Roker and running back Ja'Kobi Jackson were also ruled out, leaving Ryan Day and his staff with some important holes to account for as the matchup approaches.
There were a few brighter notes in the report, with players such as Jay Timmons and Brandon Inniss showing up as questionable rather than unavailable. Day also addressed availability and practice status, but with several key names still uncertain, Ohio State is heading into a major Big Ten test with more decisions left to settle than it would prefer. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Latest Recruiting Push Centers On Two Elite Visitors
Ohio States recruiting staff is staying busy on the West Coast and beyond, with a new offer out to 2029 athlete Kuika Moaalii from powerhouse St. John Bosco. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Moaalii is already drawing attention from multiple major programs, which fits the Buckeyes ongoing push to stay in the mix early with some of the nations most coveted young prospects.
The broader target list also includes 2028 offensive lineman RMonie Edwards and linebacker Tahj Gray, two highly ranked players who already have plenty of offers on the table. Ohio State is working to line up campus visits and keep building relationships, a familiar part of the process for a program that wants to be in position when the recruiting picture starts to get clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Trip Now Rides On Ryan Day's Toughest Call
Ryan Day is staring at one of his toughest personnel calls of the season heading into Ohio States trip to USC, with Julian Sayin sidelined by injury and the Buckeyes needing to choose between two very different options at quarterback. Freshman Luke Fahey has flashed promise with quick reads and mobility, while sophomore Tavien St. Clair brings the size and arm strength that can change a defenses outlook, even if his passing has not always been as precise.
The choice matters because it will shape how Ohio State tries to attack a USC defense on the road, and it also says plenty about where the offense is headed in the short term. Fahey gives the Buckeyes a more improvisational feel, while St. Clair offers a more classic downfield profile, leaving Day to weigh immediate stability against the kind of ceiling that can swing a big conference matchup. [Read more 🡒]