The Ohio State Buckeyes may not have been able to repeat as National Champions in 2025, but there’s no doubt that they were one of the most talented teams in the nation last year. Case in point, several Buckeyes players appear to be on track to get selected in the first round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, with star wide receiver Carnell Tate being among the folks in that group.
During his time with the Buckeyes, Tate turned himself into one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in all of college football, and he is expected to be a top 10 pick in the draft when all is said and done. With the draft drawing near, Tate recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Heavy on Ohio State, where he discussed his quest to become the next great wide receiver from Ohio State and his new partnership with SNICKERS Ice Cream.
Carnell Tate Sheds Light on Mindset Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
After helping Ohio State win a National Championship in 2024, Tate followed that up by catching 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in just 11 games of action in 2025. That production has many folks believing he will be a top 10 pick in the 2026 draft, and it sounds like Tate is fired up to find out which team he will land with. “I’m just very excited,” Tate told Heavy on Ohio State. “This is all I ever wanted in my life, all the work I put in to get here, so I’m very excited.”
There are understandably quite a few teams that would like to bring Tate to town, but only a few will have a real shot at doing so. With that in mind, Tate is in a rather unique position for a draft prospect, as he could realistically have locked in on a team or two that he would like to land with. That’s not the mindset he’s choosing to employ ahead of the draft, though, as Tate believes his skillset makes him a perfect fit for whatever offense he ends up joining.
“I think all the teams have ultimately stood out to me,” Tate revealed. “(I have) great relationships with the coaches, it was great conversations being had, just talking football. I don’t think there’s a necessarily true fit for me. I think I could fit into every offense.”
Over the past few years, Ohio State has become a pipeline for star NFL wideouts, with two of Tate’s former teammates, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, becoming the latest to join that group. Tate will look to make an immediate impact similar to how Harrison and Egbuka have quickly starred for the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively, and it’s not much of a surprise to hear that he’s kept tabs on them as they have made the jump to the pros.
“I was fortunate enough to play with both (Harrison and Egbuka), and then just see how they attack the game off the field, preparing themselves for big moments,” Tate said. “I have been watching them do successful things in the league as far as just route running ability and getting open, so I’ll add that as well to my bag.”
Carnell Tate Opens Up on SNICKERS Ice Cream Partnership
HeavyCarnell Tate is partnering with SNICKERS Ice Cream ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Tate ahead of the 2026 draft, and sometimes, it can be tough to block out all of the noise when you have the sort of expectations that the Buckeyes star carries. He’s managed to keep his cool, though, by teaming up with SNICKERS Ice Cream to release a new limited edition “Chill” Bar six-pack that fans can get their hands on ahead of the draft.
“It was only right for me,” Tate explained when discussing his decision to work with SNICKERS Ice Cream. “With all the hot takes that was going around, it was ultimately fitting for me to chill with the SNICKERS Ice Cream ‘Chill’ Bars that are dropping.”
The “Chill” Bar six-pack will feature three classic Original SNICKERS Ice Cream bars, in addition to three SNICKERS Crunchy Peanut Butter Ice Cream bars. Tate helped with the development of this new flavor, and while he enjoys the Original bar, he thinks that the new Peanut Butter bar may be even better. “It’s very good. It’s my favorite one. I’m a big fan of that one,” he shared when showcasing the Peanut Butter bar.
As part of this partnership, Tate will be sporting a custom SNICKERS Ice Cream “Chill Chain” on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, which fans will have a chance to win shortly after Tate finds his new home in the pros. Tate was sporting the flashy chain during our chat, and he gave fans a closer look at what they could earn by entering the sweepstakes for this expensive piece of jewelry.
“It’s a custom design chain from Snickers,” Tate said. “It’s got gold, it’s got diamonds, and it stands out. So, it’s only fitting to represent the art campaign, just helping everyone stay chill during these hot takes.”
Beginning Apr. 15 at 12 p.m. ET, fans can visit SNICKERS.com/Chill to claim a free SNICKERS Ice Cream x Carnell Tate “Chill” Bar six-pack, while supplies last. If you miss out on the first drop, additional batches will be available on Apr. 20 and 24 at 12 p.m. ET. You can also enter the “Chill Chain” sweepstakes at that same website between Apr. 15 and Apr. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET, as one lucky fan will get to take home Tate’s dazzling chain.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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