Life has its twists and turns, and the COVID-19 pandemic certainly changed the trajectory for many. For Carnell Tate, a five-star wide receiver from Chicago, Illinois, heading south was the right direction. The windy city is a ways away from Florida, but due to missing the entire 2020 season, the receiver decided to run a route to the sunshine state.
“The ultimate decision came down to COVID,” said Tate. “The hardest transition is getting used to the humidity and the weather. In Florida, it’s hot all year long.”
Tate decided to join the defending 2020 national champions, the IMG Academy Ascenders in Bradenton, FL. IMG started its 2021 season on the road at American Heritage Plantation where another five-star receiver made his debut with his new team, Brandon Inniss. Both players scored in the game as IMG ran away with a 35-15 road victory. The two did not meet on the field, but connected on social media. Now the tandem is two of many of the elite players on the 7-on-7 team South Florida Express.
“My boy Brandon [Inniss] hit me and asked me if I’m trying to play for SFE (South Florida Express),” said Tate. “I was like yeah why not. I’m down in Florida. I get a chance to meet new players, so why not.”
Also traveling south recently is now Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. The former Michigan OC connected with Tate once his hire was official.
“We talked the next day after he got hired. I knew coach Gattis before he came down here,” said Tate. “He came from the midwest so we already had a relationship there. He just made it down south where I’m already at so. He’s been recruiting me hard. Harder than he ever was at Michigan.”
Five ⭐️ @carnelltate_ catches everything thrown his way for @SouthFLExpress.
The 2023 @IMGAcademy WR and #MiamiHurricanes target has the #canes and #SEC schools as his desired visits this spring. pic.twitter.com/lsKWJNZzYL
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) March 2, 2022
“He said I can finally recruit you to somewhere that you’d go,” said Tate of Gattis. “It’s not that I wasn’t interested in Michigan, I just wanted them to throw the ball more and I didn’t see that in the previous year. He said that Miami has the talent to throw the ball around.”
Tate, who wore a Notre Dame shirt after day one of the Elite 7vs7 tournament last Saturday, says he has other visits in mind this spring.
“Hopefully I get down to Miami. I’m going to Georgia, hopefully, LSU and then Bama.”
Rivals.com has Tate rated as a five-star prospect at 6’ 2” 170 pounds. The 2023 prospect is your prototypical all-around receiver. Tate the build of NFL combine participant Charleston Rambo and has the breakaway speed to take it the distance as he returned two kicks for touchdowns in last year’s opener against American Heritage. Tate is clearly one of the top pass catchers in the country.
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