Carnell Tate has been a head-turner for the Ohio State fans this season. The sophomore Wide Receiver continues to exceed expectations in the Buckeyes 2024 national title chase. In an overwhelming game against Northwestern, the kid stole all the spotlight in a poetic performance. He turned in two impressive touchdowns in the first and third quarters, marking sheer athletic brilliance. But that’s not all. There was more to rejoice in his Soldier Field victory. It has a unique connection with his late mother, Ashley Griggs. There’s a point you want to know more about his parents, and we heard you right there. Let’s take you down the road of a tragic, unfinished family saga and a journey of resilience.

Tate grew up in a Chicago, Illinois neighborhood and attended Marist High School. Like the thousands of US kids, the standout Ohio Receiver started out amateur as a kid who used to play with the ball fearlessly on his home turf. After noticing early signs, his parents, have pushed him to the sport more seriously, on a gusty move. A remarkable high school football journey kick-started from Marist High School in 2019 before it expanded its wings at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, by 2021. Tate, by then, had already broken the rookie’s cocoon and started to show the world what a hell of a player he was becoming.

His senior year in 2022 deserves all the flowers. Racking up a whooping 750 receiving yards and eight touchdowns only in eight games was no joke for a 17-year-old lad. The big leagues can’t help but take notice of the 7th best recruiting class in the country. Ohio State grabbed the workhorse in January 2023 and let him hone his craft more extensively. However, two people who have been a rock in Tate’s life through the fairytale ride at the college football field are none other than his parents, Ashley Griggs and Sean Tate.

Despite keeping their private lives away from the media attention, the couple have been the biggest cheerleader for their son. From attending his games to feeding him love and care, they are second to none. Mother Griggs has been a true nurturing figure in the community and taught her kid the deepest value of integrity and family bonding. Tate followed up like an ideal son, but destiny had a tough bump planned for him.

All the Ohio State sensation has now is his mother’s countless memories and the ‘not enough’ solace of the belief that Lady Griggs is watching over him and his quintessential legacy.

What happened to Carnell Tate’s mother? 

Ashley Griggs, the mother of Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, lost her life last year in March after being shot at a breezy midnight in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood. As police officials confirmed, Tate’s mother, 40, was killed during a drive-by shooting in the 4000 block of West Washington Boulevard around 2:25 a.m. as the occupant of a vehicle gunfired a hoard of people returning from an event.

Team Ohio State sent their heartfelt condolence to their standout talent, and the entire aggrieved family in an official statement: “Our coaches, staff and players are incredibly saddened by this tragedy, and they will support Carnell in any way they can during this most difficult time.”

The whole CFB world kept the 19-year-old and his departed mother in their prayers, but Carnell Tate’s life has not been the same ever since. Even though the prodigy didn’t showcase his pain in public and instead turned it into strength, it’s not that hard to read his face immediately after a significant feat in the field. The hollow stare denotes the blending of passive pride, a lot of satisfaction and a never-ending regret of not having a particular person in the gallery! When the flashlight goes down, and the Buckeyes hero gets a moment to pause, the realization of not being able to see his mom when he reaches home hits hard.

The biggest thing was me playing in front of my family and all that. They expected a lot with me coming back home”, the 19-year-old said after a blockbuster 31-7 victory. His resilience is infectious, and so are his numbers! You call it a stellar career, where in real, it’s just a son’s devoted tribute to his mum, his leading light in heaven.