Carnell Tate is already turning heads in Tennessee, and the early buzz around the rookie receiver keeps getting louder. Clips from Titans training camp have spread quickly online, and Tate has been flashing the kind of plays that get people talking fast: toe-taps, one-handed grabs, and enough polish to put him in the Offensive Rookie of The Year conversation before the season has even begun.
Pat McAfee added another jolt to the hype on yesterday’s segment of his show, and he didn’t hold back on the praise. After talking up Tate’s work in practice, McAfee said, "This Ohio State wide receiver factory they got cooking might have found the next Terry McLaurin here,"
He followed that up with another strong read on Tate’s ceiling: "Not as hyped as everybody else," McAfee went on, "but still unbelievable. That could be Carnell Tate's trajectory, quickly."
That comparison should land well with Titans fans. Tate and McLaurin share the same Ohio State background, and while Tate is described as a little lengthier, the broader point is the same: McLaurin has built the kind of career any team would love to uncover in a young receiver.
The Washington Commanders standout has been to the Pro Bowl twice, and he’s stacked up plenty of 1,000-yard seasons. From 2020-2024, McLaurin hit that mark five straight times. That’s the standard McAfee is pointing to, and it’s a high one.
For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious. A fourth overall pick brings pressure with it, and rookies are often asked to carry more than they should.
But Tate won’t be forced to do everything by himself. Brian Daboll’s offense appears set up to let him settle in while Cam Ward looks to Wan'Dale Robinson, Gunnar Helm, and others from under center.
The Buckeyes pipeline has been a reliable one, and Tate is the latest Ohio State receiver trying to turn that pedigree into NFL production. Right now, the signs in Tennessee are strong enough to make McAfee’s McLaurin comparison feel less like a throwaway line and more like an early warning.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt's Offense Is Starting To Reveal A Few Real Camp Battles
Vanderbilts offense spent another practice session ahead of its scheduled scrimmage working through a few spots that already look like real competition points. Receiver Thomas has started to turn a corner after earlier struggles tied to injury, and his improved showing added to the sense that the Commodores may have more viable options emerging as camp moves along.
Jared Curtis, the freshman quarterback, also flashed enough to keep the conversation interesting even with some mistakes still in the mix, while Blaze Berlowitz and Jayvontay Conner showed their own varying degrees of progress. For a staff trying to sort out roles before the season fully takes shape, the next practices should say plenty about who is trending up and which offensive jobs are still up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Young Defenders Are Already Pushing This Team Forward
Vanderbilts seventh day of fall camp brought another reminder that the defense may be the early edge in preseason work. Several young defenders kept showing up throughout practice, with safety Jailen Ruth, cornerbacks Cayden Daniels and Mason Lewis, linebacker Josiah Broxton and defensive lineman Jaylon Stone all drawing notice as the Commodores keep sorting through their depth and trying to settle starting spots.
The encouraging part for Vanderbilt is not just that those names flashed, but that they did so in a camp setting where roles are still very much up for grabs. If the defense continues to stay ahead of the offense, the pressure only grows on the young players to turn those practice moments into something more meaningful once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Identity Shift Starts With A Unit Fans Usually Overlook
Special teams is usually the part of a roster fans notice only when something goes wrong, but Vanderbilt has made it a central piece of the way it wants to play. Under Clark Lea, the Commodores have leaned into a model that asks key offensive and defensive players to matter in kickoff and punt return work, with assistant special teams coach Shane Gallant helping drive that approach alongside the staff. It is part of a broader effort to shape the programs identity around details, effort and hidden yardage.
Jeff LePak has emphasized that the group is not just a place for backups or specialists to stand around between snaps. Veteran players and younger ones alike are being pushed to contribute there, with special teams framed as a real route to earning playing time. For Vanderbilt, that makes the third phase less of an afterthought and more of an audition room, one that could end up revealing which players the staff trusts most when the games start tightening up. [Read more 🡒]