Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate injury update: Star wide receivers status for Michigan game

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has been hinting at the potential return of its two star receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, throughout the week.

Now they’re both potentially ready for action; both are officially questionable for the colossal rivalry clash against Michigan on Saturday, according to the Big Ten’s availability report. And On3’s Pete Nakos reported Smith is expected to give it a go for Ohio State on Saturday in The Game. Tate is a game-time decision ahead of the game, per Nakos.

This follows Ohio State coach Ryan Day speaking vaguely about both of them throughout the week.

“They’re doing everything they can to get on the field,” Day said Tuesday.

That update came just one day after Smith was on star safety Caleb Downs’ podcast, Downs 2 Business, and said he’s going to be ‘good to go’ for the rivalry clash.

“I’m feeling good,” Jeremiah Smith said on the podcast appearance. “You know, dealing with a little situation, injury-wise. But I should be good to go Saturday.”

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 on Nov. 1, but he did not play. He was ruled out for the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA last week when the official availability report was released two hours prior to kickoff and again for the win over Rutgers

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 of that game, leading to reckless speculation about his status moving forward. He was declared out for the Rutgers game in the pregame availability report.

With both of them out against Rutgers, Ohio State turned to a starting wide receiver trio of third-year receiver Brandon Inniss, former walk-on senior receiver David Adolph and a host of tight ends splitting duty. Bryson Rodgers and Mylan Graham were expected to have a major role in the offense, but they played sparingly on Saturday. Max Klare was the star of the passing game, hauling in seven passes for a career-high 105 yards and a touchdown.

It’s no secret, though, that Ohio State has a much better chance to take down Michigan for the first time since 2019 if Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are both in action on Saturday.

They’re now officially questionable for the matchup after plenty of speculation.

The full availability report from the program is now confirmed, making note that Ohio State doesn’t detail injury or disciplinary matters.

Questionable for Ohio State

WR Jeremiah Smith
WR Carnell Tate

Out

DE Logan George
SAF Malik Hartford
WR De’Zie Jones
QB/RB Mason Maggs
WR Quincy Porter
DT Maxwell Roy
DT Ahmen Tounkara