ESPN makes boring selection for Ohio State's "sleeper player" for 2025

ESPN came out with a fun article this week, naming a "sleeper" player for every team in their expected Top 25. For the Buckeyes, they pick Carnell Tate.

Honestly, Tate was the obvious pick. In a team with such high expectations and so few returning players, there were no other real choices. Basically everyone else returning to the Buckeyes is a veritable star already, and even the under-the-radar defenders returning are more high-profile than Tate. Then again, Tate is pretty high-profile himself. Sure, he was stuck behind Emeka Egbuka on the depth chart this past year, making him the third option in an elite receiver room, but most college football fans know who he is (especially after the Cotton Bowl).

Which is why, in a way, ESPN chickened out a bit by going with Tate. As ESPN describes it, "With Egbuka gone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tate is set to play an ever bigger role for the Buckeyes as a junior." Which is obviously true. At the same time, the Buckeyes receiver room is so stacked that Tate––while certainly a talented playmaker––probably isn't much of a sleeper.

A much better pick might have Eddrick Houston or Kayden McDonald on the defensive line. The Buckeyes need to replace a lot of NFL talent in that area, and someone will need to really step up if Ohio State wants to be championship-caliber again.

Or if ESPN really wanted a sleeper of an offensive player for the Buckeyes, they could have gone with Brandon Inniss. Inniss should be an impact player for the Buckeyes this year (kind of like Tate last year), and far fewer people know who he is.

Honestly, given the fact that Carnell Tate was the main photo ESPN used for their article, it almost feels like they put him up there because he is recognized already. Which he deserves--after all, he is one of the best returning receivers in college football. But it doesn't make him much of a "sleeper," does it?

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: ESPN makes boring selection for Ohio State's "sleeper player" for 2025