Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate update: Ryan Day provides mid-week update on superstar wide receivers

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day declined to get into any specifics on the status of injured star wide receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith on Wednesday, a day after he was first asked about the pair of pass-catchers.

Day said both are working hard to get back on the practice field and play in games, but he did not say whether either practiced for the Buckeyes on Wednesday night.

“They’re working hard to get back on the field, and that’s it,” Day said. “I mean, that’s what they’re focused on. And I don’t really have much more of an update other than that.”

That follows up the vague update Day gave on Tuesday during his first press conference of the week.

“They’re in great spirits,” Day said Tuesday. “The medical staff is working hard. We’ll take it day to day. … they’re working hard to get back on the field.”

Carnell Tate hasn’t played for the Buckeyes since their win over Penn State on Nov. 1, when he had five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 38-14 win. He warmed up ahead of the game at Purdue and dressed to play in that game, but he did not play. He was ruled out for the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA on Saturday when the official availability report was released two hours prior to kickoff.

As for Jeremiah Smith, he followed up a career-best 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in the win over Purdue with just four grabs for 40 yards in the win over UCLA after being declared questionable for the game in the pregame availability report. Smith certainly made headlines with his gingerly jog into the locker room at halftime, leading to reckless speculation about his status moving forward.

With both of them either out or limited, Ohio State turned to a bevy of pass-catchers to make up production, as Julian Sayin threw to a variety of options. In the win over UCLA, Sayin found wide receiver Brandon Inniss six times, tight end Max Klare five times, wide receiver Mylan Graham three times, wide receiver Bryson Rodgers, tight end Nate Roberts and tailback Isaiah West twice and well as tailback James Peoples and wide receiver Quincy Porter once each.

Of course, Ohio State is much better as an offensive machine with Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith in action. The Buckeyes know that.

The good news from Day’s press conference on Wednesday: he said tailback CJ Donaldson has been practicing after he missed last weekend’s win over UCLA.

“Good, good. He’s strong,” Day said of Donaldson, “and had a good day of practice today.”

And lastly, Day said Julian Sayin has had a full week of practice and is ready for action against Rutgers after rolling his ankle and going into the medical tent on Saturday night. He returned to the game and led the offense to a great night despite not having his top two pass-catching options.