Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Hold Highest and Third-Highest NIL Salaries Among College Football Wide Receivers

The Buckeyes’ top receiver tandem is cashing in NIL deals like the game-changers they’ve proven to be.

Ohio State wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate ranked first and third, respectively, among the highest NIL earners at the position in college football, according to On3. 

The valuations reflect the approximate compensation players will receive from the school and/or NIL collective and doesn’t include incentives.

Smith, last season’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year and Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year winner, is estimated to earn between $4-5 million dollars this season. He has racked up 11 catches for 162 yards and two scores through Ohio State’s first two contests.

With the highest valuation of a non-quarterback in college football, On3 estimates Smith will earn almost $2-3 million more than Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, who is projected to make $1.8 million this year. 

Tate, Smith’s opposite out wide, ranks just behind Williams and is expected to earn upwards of $1.5 million dollars this season. The junior wideout has seven catches for 118 yards and two scores through two games for the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State was one of only two programs with a duo of wide receivers earning over $1 million, alongside Auburn’s Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton.