Tate's 40-Yard Dash Snub: Smart Play or Missed Opportunity?

Carnell Tate raised some eyebrows at Ohio State’s Pro Day on Wednesday. The talented wide receiver, fresh off a solid but not spectacular freshman season, opted out of running the 40-yard dash. His reasoning? He called the drill "overvalued." It’s a bold stance for a player looking to make a splash, especially after clocking a 4.46 at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis just a few weeks prior. That’s a good time, no doubt, but not elite, not the kind of number that sends scouts scrambling.

The Combine Numbers Game

Look, the 40-yard dash has become the unofficial king of the Combine drills. Everyone talks about it. John Ross's 4.22 in 2017 made him a top-10 pick, even if his NFL career never quite matched the hype. Chris Johnson’s 4.24 in 2008 set the tone for a fantastic career. For receivers, speed sells. Tate's 4.46 put him in the middle of the pack among wideouts at the Combine this year. Xavier Legette, for comparison, ran a 4.39. Roman Wilson hit a 4.39 too. Even Marvin Harrison Jr., who also skipped the 40 at the Combine and Pro Day, had a perceived blazing speed from his game film. Tate, with 18 catches for 264 yards and one touchdown in 2023, didn't always jump off the screen with pure straight-line speed.

Tate's Calculated Risk

Here's the thing: Tate isn't wrong about the 40 being overvalued. It's a track event, not a football play. How often do receivers run 40 yards in a straight line without pads, without defenders, without a ball in the air? Not often. Route running, contested catches, YAC — those are the real indicators of NFL success. Tate showed flashes of that potential last season, particularly with a 48-yard catch against Purdue and a 31-yard grab against Michigan State. He’s got good hands and runs crisp routes. Maybe he felt he wouldn't significantly improve on his 4.46, and a slower time would have hurt him more than not running at all. That's a calculated risk.

But it’s also a risk that might not pay off. Scouts are looking for any edge, any data point. A slightly faster time, say a 4.40, could have moved him up a round in some teams' estimations. This isn't just about pure speed; it's about athleticism and confirming what they see on tape. Tate's decision, while understandable, feels a bit like leaving money on the table. It screams, "My game film is enough," and for a guy who wasn't a dominant starter last year, that's a tough sell. My hot take? Tate’s refusal to run again will drop him a full round in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's a small detail, but in a league obsessed with measurables, it matters.

What's Next for the Buckeye?

Tate's focus now shifts entirely to his sophomore season in Columbus. He’ll need to prove his point on the field. With Harrison Jr. gone, there's a huge opportunity for Tate to step into a much larger role. He’ll be competing with Emeka Egbuka and newcomer Jeremiah Smith for targets. If he can double his freshman production, say 50 catches for 800 yards and 7-8 touchdowns, then his 40-yard dash time will become an afterthought. The film will speak for itself. If he doesn't, though, and still puts up modest numbers, then that "overvalued" 40-yard dash might suddenly look a lot more important to NFL evaluators next spring. He's got a year to prove his point.