Meet Ohio State football’s new 2023 preferred walk-on wide receiver

On Feb 27, 2023

A preferred walk-on spot on Ohio State football’s roster was always Nolan Baudo’s main goal.

The 2023 wide receiver from Marist High School in Chicago wanted to be a part of a big college football program, bringing with him the goal of later becoming a coach. From Baudo’s first visit to Ohio State with best friend and former teammate Carnell Tate as a sophomore, he saw what kind of coach he wanted to become.

“I just want to learn how to be a leader, how to carry myself, how to go about my business, how to inspire other people and get people to believe in what I believe,” Baudo said. “That’s what coach (Brian) Hartline did for me after day one. I was like, ‘I want to follow that guy. I want to be a part of that guy’s crew.’ ”

Cultivating his own relationship with offensive coordinator Hartline and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, Baudo earned a spot on Ohio State’s 2023 roster as a preferred walk-on, joining Tate in the Buckeyes’ wide receiver room — a goal he had written on his bulletin board two years prior.

Baudo already knows what his role at Ohio State will be like, ready to contribute in whatever way helps the team best.

“I think that’s just playing a big part in the preferred walk-on position: being a humble person and knowing your role and staying in your lane,” Baudo said. “Just going to work every single day regardless of the circumstance.”

Carnell Tate helps Nolan Baudo connect with Brian Hartline

From their first shared practice as freshman football players at Marist, Boudo knew how great Tate could be.

“Everyone was going in pretty nervous,” Baudo said. “But you could just tell he was probably one of the only kids with a lot of confidence. And that showed the first day. I mean, nobody could guard him. Nobody could even touch him.”