Jeremiah Smith may still be a freshman, but he’s already making noise not just with his elite talent on the field, but also with his bold confidence off of it. In a recent media session that quickly made rounds on social media, the former five-star wide receiver had the attention of Buckeye Nation when he singled out a teammate with an emphatic declaration: “He’s a dog.” That short but powerful statement is reverberating across Columbus and sending a message that there might be another star about to erupt in the scarlet and gray this fall.
Smith, widely regarded as one of the best wide receiver prospects in recent memory, has come to Ohio State with lofty expectations. As part of the program’s wide receiver dynasty under Brian Hartline, he’s following in the footsteps of names like Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But what may be even more impressive than his own rapid development is his eye for recognizing greatness around him. When asked about which player on the team has stood out the most during fall camp, Smith didn’t hesitate — his praise went to fellow wideout Carnell Tate. “He’s a dog,” Smith said bluntly, a phrase that in the world of football isn’t just a compliment — it’s a badge of honor.
In Buckeye culture, being called a “dog” means you’re tough, relentless, competitive, and ready for war. It’s reserved for players who bring it every snap — in the weight room, in meetings, in walkthroughs, and under the lights in the ‘Shoe. And in Jeremiah Smith’s eyes, Carnell Tate fits that description perfectly. Tate, now a sophomore, had flashes last season that hinted at what could come if given more opportunities. He showcased precise route-running, sticky hands, and a mental toughness that belied his youth. With Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka ahead of him in 2023, Tate had to wait for his moment. Now, that moment is here.
Smith’s praise carries serious weight. He isn’t just another player throwing around hype — he’s seen up close what greatness looks like. Coming out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida, Smith dominated high school competition and earned comparisons to Julio Jones and Larry Fitzgerald for his physicality, catching radius, and work ethic. At Ohio State, he’s been absorbing the offense like a sponge and already displaying advanced route-running and an uncanny ability to separate from defensive backs. So when someone like that points to a teammate and says, “he’s a dog,” it’s not hyperbole — it’s prophecy.
Carnell Tate’s journey to this moment has been anything but casual. He arrived at Ohio State as a highly-rated recruit out of IMG Academy, one of the most prestigious football factories in the nation. Even as a freshman, he impressed the coaching staff with his maturity, football IQ, and professional approach to the game. His dedication showed in every practice, every rep, every sprint. But the moment that truly defined his grit was the tragic loss of his mother last summer in a senseless act of gun violence. Instead of collapsing under the weight of unimaginable grief, Tate found strength in football, in his teammates, and in his family’s love. That kind of inner resilience doesn’t just build a player — it forges a warrior.
As fall camp ramps up in Columbus, insiders have been buzzing about the chemistry building between Tate and new starting quarterback Will Howard. The former Kansas State signal caller transferred to Ohio State with a chip on his shoulder and a desire to prove he belongs at the helm of one of college football’s most high-octane offenses. So far, Howard and Tate have looked like they’ve been working together for years. Their timing on back-shoulder throws, deep routes, and option plays has been crisp, and Tate’s reliability is reportedly turning heads in every scrimmage.
What makes Tate so dangerous is his versatility. He can line up inside or outside, he can beat corners with speed or shake them with footwork, and he has the strength to make contested catches in traffic. He’s not flashy for the sake of being flashy — he’s surgical. That’s the kind of weapon Ohio State’s offense has always thrived with. If you go back through the recent lineage, every breakout receiver at OSU had that moment — that tipping point when the world realized the Buckeyes had another alpha. For Chris Olave, it was against Michigan in 2018. For Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it was the Rose Bowl explosion. For Marvin Harrison Jr., it was stepping up during injuries in 2021. Tate could be next.
And Jeremiah Smith’s stamp of approval may just be the warning shot. In football, there’s a deeper truth behind what players say about each other. It’s one thing to praise a teammate because it’s media day. It’s another when that praise sounds like it came straight out of a team meeting. Smith didn’t sugarcoat his answer or dodge the question — he leaned into it. His tone, his body language, and the gleam in his eyes told fans everything they needed to know. Carnell Tate isn’t just another guy. He’s that guy.
The Buckeyes will be under the spotlight from week one in 2025. With a new quarterback under center, a retooled offensive line, and a defense led by returning studs like Jack Sawyer and Sonny Styles, Ohio State is in reload-not-rebuild mode. But even the best systems need playmakers to elevate the structure into something special. That’s where Tate and Smith come in. Both are poised to be key contributors this fall, and both have the confidence to carry expectations without blinking.
Smith, despite being a freshman, has been vocal about his desire to dominate early. It’s rare to see a young player so comfortable speaking with conviction. It’s even rarer to see one who backs it up in every drill. Smith and Tate, along with fellow pass-catchers like Brandon Inniss and Emeka Egbuka, give the Buckeyes one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country once again. But within that room, a pecking order is forming — and it’s being forged not by reputation but by competition.
Head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are working diligently to install a system that maximizes the talents of their receivers. Kelly’s return to college football brings a fresh perspective, and early reports suggest that Ohio State will look to stretch defenses horizontally and vertically in ways that stress even the most athletic secondaries. Tate fits that mold perfectly. He’s already proven he can find soft spots in zone coverage, and now he’s refining the nuances of man-beating techniques to ensure he’s always open when it matters.
As for Smith, his admiration for Tate is only pushing him to get better. That’s the beauty of a competitive wide receiver room. Each player elevates the next. If Tate shows out in practice, Smith wants to raise the bar. If Smith makes a spectacular grab, Tate takes note and counters with his own. It’s a steel-sharpens-steel environment that Hartline has cultivated, and it’s why Ohio State keeps churning out elite talent at the position.
Jeremiah Smith may have only needed three words to send the message, but they were loaded with significance. “He’s a dog” isn’t about barking or bravado — it’s about toughness, consistency, and hunger. It’s about a player who refuses to back down, no matter who lines up across from him. It’s about someone who embraces the moment and leaves everything on the field. And this season, if Carnell Tate lives up to the label his young teammate gave him, Ohio State fans might be watching the rise of the next great name in the program’s storied wide receiver lineage.
College football has always thrived on stories like this — young stars emerging, teammates believing in each other, and competition transforming potential into production. Jeremiah Smith’s words might have been casual to him, but they could end up prophetic. If Tate explodes this season the way insiders expect him to, we’ll all look back at this moment and realize it was never a surprise. The real ones saw it coming. And one of them — a freshman wideout already wise beyond his years — wasn’t afraid to speak it into existence.
