WR Tate leaving Buckeyes for NFL draft

Sources say Ohio State wide receiver Tate is leaving the Buckeyes to enter the NFL draft, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper projects him as a top-10 pick; this season he had 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games.

Tate is leaving Ohio State to enter the NFL draft, according to sources. He drew attention this season for his production and for high draft projections. The decision follows a three-year college career that included significant receiving totals and several notable single-game performances. He missed three games this season because of injury. Key facts: - Sources report Tate is leaving the Buckeyes to enter the NFL draft. - ESPN analyst Mel Kiper currently projects Tate as a top-10 pick. - This season Tate had 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games, missing three games due to injury. - Notable games this year included 183 receiving yards against Minnesota, 124 yards and a touchdown against Penn State, and five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown against Michigan. - Over three collegiate seasons Tate finished with 1,872 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, and he played as a true freshman and contributed on Ohio State’s national title team as a sophomore. - The report notes Ohio State has produced multiple recent first-round receivers, and a veteran NFL scout described Tate as smooth, fast, athletic, and having good hands and ball skills, comparing him to a taller version of Pro Bowl receiver Chris Chambers. Summary: Tate’s decision to enter the draft is reported as continuing a recent run of Ohio State wide receivers moving to the NFL in early rounds, and his season and career statistics are part of that context. Undetermined at this time.