The first round of the NFL draft was held Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The opening round consisted of 32 picks with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza being selected No. 1 overall by Las Vegas.
Following the Raiders selecting the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback, the Jets drafted Texas Tech defensive lineman David Bailey with the No. 2 pick and Arizona selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall.
The Titans had the No. 4 pick and drafted Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound wide receiver played for the Buckeyes from 2023-25. He recorded 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Tate went to Ohio State from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He committed to the Buckeyes on June 20, 2022 over Tennessee, Notre Dame, LSU, Alabama and Georgia.
Josh Heupel was introduced as Tennessee's head coach on Jan. 27, 2021. Following his first Orange & White Game on April 24, 2021, Heupel and the Vols offered a scholarship to Tate on April 26, 2021.
"Beyond blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee," Tate announced in 2021.
Beyond blessed to receive an offer from The University of Tennessee! #GBO🍊@CoachHalzle @KodiBurns pic.twitter.com/vtLHvbbg46
After receiving a scholarship offer, Tate unofficially visited the Vols for a Tennessee-Vanderbilt game at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 27, 2021. He also attended Tennessee's junior day on Jan. 22, 2022.
Before committing to Ohio State, Tate visited Tennessee two additional times: officially on April 8, 2022 and unofficially May 14-15, 2022.
Former Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh was hired as USF's head coach on Dec. 4, 2022. Tate unofficially visited the Bulls on Dec. 11, 2022 after committing to Ohio State in June 2022.
More: Vols offer 2023 wide receiver Carnell Tate from IMG Academy
Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2000 NFL draft first round (No. 5 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman Shaun Ellis was selected by the New York Jets in the 2000 NFL draft first round (No. 12 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman John Henderson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 9 overall).Tennessee wide receiver Donte Stallworth was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 13 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 15 overall).Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2006 NFL draft first round (No. 16 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman Justin Harrell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL draft first round (No. 16 overall).Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2007 NFL draft first round (No. 27 overall).Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2008 NFL draft first round (No. 10 overall).Tennessee linebacker Robert Ayers was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL draft first round (No. 18 overall).Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL draft first round (No. 5 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman Dan Williams was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2010 NFL draft first round (No. 26 overall).Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL draft first round (No. 29 overall).Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2014 NFL draft first round (No. 19 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman Derek Barnett was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 NFL draft first round (No. 14 overall).Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL draft first round (No. 10 overall).Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL draft first round (No. 26 overall).1 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2000 NFL draft first round (No. 5 overall).1 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2000 NFL draft first round (No. 5 overall).2 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman Shaun Ellis was selected by the New York Jets in the 2000 NFL draft first round (No. 12 overall).3 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman John Henderson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 9 overall).4 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee wide receiver Donte Stallworth was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 13 overall).5 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2002 NFL draft first round (No. 15 overall).6 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2006 NFL draft first round (No. 16 overall).7 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman Justin Harrell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL draft first round (No. 16 overall).8 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2007 NFL draft first round (No. 27 overall).9 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2008 NFL draft first round (No. 10 overall).10 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee linebacker Robert Ayers was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL draft first round (No. 18 overall).11 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL draft first round (No. 5 overall).12 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman Dan Williams was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2010 NFL draft first round (No. 26 overall).13 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL draft first round (No. 29 overall).14 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2014 NFL draft first round (No. 19 overall).15 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman Derek Barnett was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 NFL draft first round (No. 14 overall).16 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL draft first round (No. 10 overall).17 / 17PHOTOS: Tennessee football first-round NFL draft picks since 2000Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL draft first round (No. 26 overall).Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Titans' wide receiver Carnell Tate's recruitment history with Vols