Player Spotlight: Brandon Tate, WR UNC
August 27th, 2008 by Jason Roberts
If fantasy owners have become familiar with the name Brandon Tate, wide receiver for the North Carolina Tarheels, it is likely because of his recording-breaking performances as a kick returner on the UNC special teams unit, and not because of talent he brings to the wideout position whenever quarterback T.J. Yates and the rest of Butch Davis’ offense takes the field.
Expect that all to change come the 2008 season.
Tate, who has already staked claimed to the ACC record for kickoff returns and yardage (98 returns for 2,383 yards), and will likely this year overtake former Tulane wide receiver Jeff Liggon‘s NCAA all-time career return yardage record (2922 yards, set between 1993-1996), led the ACC in all-purpose yardage in 2007, averaging 147.1 yards-per-game played last season and finished the year tops for the team with both 1765 all-purpose yards accumulated and team-high seven total touchdowns scored.
While a majority of the stats mentioned above came as a result of his participation on special teams – he averaged over 24 yards-per-return on kickoffs, nearly 10 yards-per-return on punts – Tate quietly also put up some frighteningly good numbers as a receiver, grabbing 479 yards and five touchdowns on just 25 total receptions.
For those doing the math, that breaks down to just over 19 yards-per-catch.
At 6’1″ and 195 pounds, Tate brings a good physical presence to the wide receiver position; still, it is his speeds which kills out in open space, with the junior running a 4.45 40-yard dash, and appearing to be even faster when in a gametime environment.
From a statistical perspective, fantasy owners might marvel at Tate and his all-purpose yardage production, but a large percentage of those numbers come from a component of the game which most fantasy leagues don’t bother to include – yards acquired through participation on special teams.
While UNC hosts this season one of the deepest and most talented wide receiver corps in all of the ACC, it is Nicks whom will draw the majority of the attention from opposing defensive backfields and become the focus of strong coverage corners and safeties.
Also, should Kenton Thorton and freshman recruit Rashad Mason, both of whom are 6’4″ and 230 pounds and 6’5″, 220 pounds, respectively – get worked into the UNC offensive game plan as large leap-and-jump options downfield on the outside or running for the corner on a slant, then other smaller, yet speedier receivers and tight ends can become threats on the inside and middle of the field.
As such, and with Tate as one writer, Michael Feldman at Bleacher Report, states exists as “truly a highlight waiting to happen,” fantasy owners should not be surprised that a continually maturing player like Tate stands on the precipice of a phenomenal senior season that defines him as more than just a outstanding return man on special teams.
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