Kenny Tate
Encyclopedia
Kenny Tate is an American football player. He plays college football
as a safety for the Maryland Terrapins
at the University of Maryland
. He was recruited as a wide receiver
, but as a true freshman in 2008, was converted to the safety position. During his college tenure, Tate has lined up as a defensive end
, defensive tackle, middle linebacker, outside linebacker, and defensive back
. He was a highly touted college prospect and considered one of the best interscholastic
players in the nation.
with parents Kenneth and Michelle Fields. He first played football at the age of six as a running back
for the Peppermill Pirates and started playing basketball that same year. Tate attended DeMatha Catholic High School
in Hyattsville, Maryland
, where he played both sports. In football, he was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter
. He played as a wide receiver
, tailback
, safety, kick returner
, and punt returner
. His high school coach compared his athleticism to that of Brian Westbrook
. As a sophomore in 2005, he recorded seven rushing
and four receiving
touchdowns. As a junior, Tate rushed and received for more than 300 combined yards and seven touchdown
s, and also recorded one kickoff return
touchdown and two punt return touchdowns. As a senior, he recorded 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns, 48 tackle
s, and four interception
s. The Associated Press
named him a consensus all-state player three times, and The Washington Post
named him an All-Metro player three times. He played as a starting wide receiver for the East squad in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
, an all-star game for some of the nation's most outstanding high school seniors.
Rivals.com
rated him a four-star prospect, the 23rd-ranked wide receiver in the nation, and fourth-ranked player in the state of Maryland. Scout.com
also rated him a four-star prospect and considered him the 16th-ranked receiver nationally. ESPN
placed him at number 134 in the ESPNU 150, which consisted of the best players in the nation from the 2008 recruiting class. SuperPrep assessed him as the third-ranked player in the Mid-Atlantic
region.
Tate was a highly recruited college prospect and received more than 100 scholarship offers
. He was a potential recruit in both football and in basketball as a small forward
, but decided before his senior year that he would play the former in college. Tate received football scholarship offers from Florida
, Illinois
, Maryland
, Michigan
, Notre Dame
, Ohio State
, Penn State
, Tennessee
, Virginia
, and Virginia Tech
. He narrowed his final choices to Illinois, Maryland, and Penn State. Ultimately, Tate chose Maryland over Illinois, whose offensive coordinator Mike Locksley
, a former Terrapins running backs coach
, had much success recruiting in the Baltimore–Washington area
. Tate said, "I felt it was the best fit for football and academics." He told The Baltimore Sun
, "One [reason] of course is that it’s close to home. Parents, family members and friends can come see me play. The football program is on the rise, academics are one of the best, so I can’t go wrong there." His commitment to Maryland was seen as a windfall for the program, which had recently struggled to secure highly touted prospects from the local area. After his freshman season, he said, "I don't think a lot of the players around here think about playing at Maryland . . . I love it here and it's close to home. I don't regret my decision at all."
, head coach Ralph Friedgen
moved Tate to safety due to a lack of depth at that position. Friedgen admitted apprehension with the decision because he had recruited Tate as a wide receiver and did not want to hurt his credibility as a recruiter. The switch moved him from a position with an abundance of talented players to one that allowed significantly more game action. As a converted wide receiver, he possessed sure hands, a valuable attribute for a defensive back
. Friedgen said,
One of four true freshman to play for Maryland in 2008
, Tate saw action in all 13 games as a reserve safety and on special teams. He recorded six kick returns for 84 yards and a long of 17, 15 tackles including ten solo and five assisted, one interception, and one pass broken-up. Tate served as the backup kick returner behind Torrey Smith
and punt returner behind Danny Oquendo
. Wide receiver Oquendo said of Tate, "He's a great guy and he's a freak athlete. But he’s not cocky."
Tate had one assisted tackle each against Delaware and Middle Tennessee
, and two solo tackles against California
. Against Eastern Michigan
, he saw action every third series in relief of starting safety Jeff Allen. Tate was also employed as a second, close-in returner with the goal of intercepting one of Eastern Michigan's "rugby-style" punt
s before it could bounce downfield. In that game, he recorded a career-high three tackles. Tate compiled one solo tackle against Clemson
and two against Virginia
. In the shutout
win against Wake Forest
, Tate recorded his first broken-up pass, but was unable to pull it in for an interception
. He also had two solo tackles in that game. Tate returned two kickoff
s for 20 yards in the Florida State
game, and against Boston College
, he recorded one tackle. In the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl
against Nevada
, Tate made his first career interception when he caught a potential touchdown throw from Colin Kaepernick
in the end zone
.
He entered the 2009 season
as the backup to senior strong safety Jamari McCollough and backup punt returner to Tony Logan. Safeties coach Kevin Lempa and defensive coordinator Don Brown
said Tate would see a significant amount of playing time at various positions: safety, linebacker
, defensive end
, and cornerback
. Tate received high praise during and after the summer, and The Baltimore Sun called him one of the "August standouts", alongside wide receiver . Head coach Friedgen called his camp performance "sensational", while Maryland quarterback Chris Turner
said, "Kenny is a problem. His instincts are so advanced, the way he times up the count when he is blitzing and plays in coverage and reads receivers and reads me and the space he covers just with his wingspan alone, it is really impressive to see. It's something else."
During the season, Tate saw action in ten games, including four starts. He missed the final two contests against Florida State
and Boston College
after he suffered a severe ankle sprain against Virginia Tech
. Tate amassed 47 tackles and 1.5 sacks
. He made his career first unassisted sack against Clemson
quarterback Kyle Parker
. After the season, he said, "It's a privilege to play . . . Just getting hurt last year, I had not missed a game since I was in like eighth grade. That hurt me, to miss those last two games and to not practice. It hurt me inside. I was just like, when I get my opportunity, every play, every down, I'm just going to go hard."
considered him a "valuable asset" to second-year defensive coordinator Don Brown
's aggressive system. In the season opener against Navy
at M&T Bank Stadium
in Baltimore
, Tate stopped a quarterback keeper
by Ricky Dobbs
on the goal line
, which preserved a 17–14 Maryland victory in the closing minutes. During the game, he compiled a career high 12 tackles and forced two fumbles, one of which halted a potential scoring drive inside the Maryland five-yard line. For his performance against Navy, the Atlantic Coast Conference named Tate its Defensive Back of the Week. The Football Writers Association of America
named him the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and added him to the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Watch List. Against 21st-ranked West Virginia
, Tate intercepted a pass thrown by Jock Sanders
on a halfback option play
, and returned it 53 yards. Against Duke
, Tate harassed quarterback Sean Renfree and compiled 1.5 sacks, including one that forced a fumble during a drive deep in Maryland territory.
at the University of Maryland. His pre-game routine consists of eating two jelly sandwiches, a habit that he formed in the eighth grade. During his freshman season, Tate roomed with two other players who saw action in their first year: cornerback Cameron Chism and running back Davin Meggett
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a safety for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. He was recruited as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, but as a true freshman in 2008, was converted to the safety position. During his college tenure, Tate has lined up as a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, defensive tackle, middle linebacker, outside linebacker, and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. He was a highly touted college prospect and considered one of the best interscholastic
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
players in the nation.
Early life
Tate grew up in Forestville, MarylandForestville, Maryland
Forestville is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,707 at the 2000 census...
with parents Kenneth and Michelle Fields. He first played football at the age of six as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Peppermill Pirates and started playing basketball that same year. Tate attended DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School, named after Saint John of Matha, is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. DeMatha is known for academic achievement, music, arts, service and athletics...
in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
, where he played both sports. In football, he was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. He played as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, safety, kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
, and punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
. His high school coach compared his athleticism to that of Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
. As a sophomore in 2005, he recorded seven rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
and four receiving
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
touchdowns. As a junior, Tate rushed and received for more than 300 combined yards and seven touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, and also recorded one kickoff return
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
touchdown and two punt return touchdowns. As a senior, he recorded 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns, 48 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s, and four interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
s. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
named him a consensus all-state player three times, and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
named him an All-Metro player three times. He played as a starting wide receiver for the East squad in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
, an all-star game for some of the nation's most outstanding high school seniors.
Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
rated him a four-star prospect, the 23rd-ranked wide receiver in the nation, and fourth-ranked player in the state of Maryland. Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
also rated him a four-star prospect and considered him the 16th-ranked receiver nationally. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
placed him at number 134 in the ESPNU 150, which consisted of the best players in the nation from the 2008 recruiting class. SuperPrep assessed him as the third-ranked player in the Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
region.
Tate was a highly recruited college prospect and received more than 100 scholarship offers
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
. He was a potential recruit in both football and in basketball as a small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
, but decided before his senior year that he would play the former in college. Tate received football scholarship offers from Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
, Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
, Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
, Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, and Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
. He narrowed his final choices to Illinois, Maryland, and Penn State. Ultimately, Tate chose Maryland over Illinois, whose offensive coordinator Mike Locksley
Mike Locksley
Mike Locksley is an American football coach. After serving as an assistant coach for several college football squads, he became the 29th head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos football team in 2009...
, a former Terrapins running backs coach
Running backs coach
A running backs coach is a coach in charge of the running backs in gridiron football. The running backs coach typically operates under the team's offensive coordinator....
, had much success recruiting in the Baltimore–Washington area
Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area is a combined statistical area consisting of the overlapping labor market region of the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. The region includes Central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Jefferson County in the Eastern Panhandle of West...
. Tate said, "I felt it was the best fit for football and academics." He told The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, "One [reason] of course is that it’s close to home. Parents, family members and friends can come see me play. The football program is on the rise, academics are one of the best, so I can’t go wrong there." His commitment to Maryland was seen as a windfall for the program, which had recently struggled to secure highly touted prospects from the local area. After his freshman season, he said, "I don't think a lot of the players around here think about playing at Maryland . . . I love it here and it's close to home. I don't regret my decision at all."
2008 season
Before the start of the 2008 season2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season...
, head coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
moved Tate to safety due to a lack of depth at that position. Friedgen admitted apprehension with the decision because he had recruited Tate as a wide receiver and did not want to hurt his credibility as a recruiter. The switch moved him from a position with an abundance of talented players to one that allowed significantly more game action. As a converted wide receiver, he possessed sure hands, a valuable attribute for a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. Friedgen said,
"He is really a phenomenal athlete and he really has tremendous hands. He made some plays the other day that were like, 'Whoa,' going up and catching the ball with one hand. He is a pretty good man-cover guy for a guy who is 6-3, 220 pounds. He plays on the slots, and Coach[ James] Franklin can’t find the slots because he covers them up so well."
One of four true freshman to play for Maryland in 2008
2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season...
, Tate saw action in all 13 games as a reserve safety and on special teams. He recorded six kick returns for 84 yards and a long of 17, 15 tackles including ten solo and five assisted, one interception, and one pass broken-up. Tate served as the backup kick returner behind Torrey Smith
Torrey Smith
James Torrey Smith is an American wide receiver and kickoff returner in the National Football League. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2011 NFL Draft. Smith attended Stafford Senior High School in Stafford, Virginia, where he played basketball and football. He accepted a scholarship...
and punt returner behind Danny Oquendo
Danny Oquendo
Daniel "Danny" Oquendo, Jr. is an American football player. He is a former wide receiver for the Maryland Terrapins of the University of Maryland.-Early years:...
. Wide receiver Oquendo said of Tate, "He's a great guy and he's a freak athlete. But he’s not cocky."
Tate had one assisted tackle each against Delaware and Middle Tennessee
2008 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
The 2008 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Middle Tennessee competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The team...
, and two solo tackles against California
2008 California Golden Bears football team
The 2008 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2008-2009 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and are coached by Jeff Tedford...
. Against Eastern Michigan
2008 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team
The 2008 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference.The team was led by...
, he saw action every third series in relief of starting safety Jeff Allen. Tate was also employed as a second, close-in returner with the goal of intercepting one of Eastern Michigan's "rugby-style" punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
s before it could bounce downfield. In that game, he recorded a career-high three tackles. Tate compiled one solo tackle against Clemson
2008 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney...
and two against Virginia
2008 Virginia Cavaliers Football Team
The 2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was Virginia's 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The Cavaliers were led by...
. In the shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
win against Wake Forest
2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
The 2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was Wake Forest's 56th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference .The Demon Deacons...
, Tate recorded his first broken-up pass, but was unable to pull it in for an interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
. He also had two solo tackles in that game. Tate returned two kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s for 20 yards in the Florida State
2008 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2008 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was Florida State's 17th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference .The previous...
game, and against Boston College
2008 Boston College Eagles football team
The 2008 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was Boston College's fourth season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The Eagles were led by...
, he recorded one tackle. In the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl
2008 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Nevada Wolf Pack on December 30, 2008. It was the two teams' first meeting. The game featured two conference tie-ins: the University of Maryland represented the Atlantic Coast Conference ...
against Nevada
2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
The 2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Nevada competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference .The team was led by...
, Tate made his first career interception when he caught a potential touchdown throw from Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Rand Kaepernick is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He played college football at Nevada.-Personal:...
in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
.
2009 season
At the end of the 2008 season, head coach Ralph Friedgen gave Tate the option of switching back to wide receiver. Friedgen said, "I think he's going to be really good whether he goes back to wide receiver or stays at safety." In 2009, Tate chose to remain at safety and said, "I feel a lot more comfortable [than early last year]. I feel like I'm back in the swing of things." Despite ten potential starting wide receivers on the Maryland roster, Tate said that did not factor into his decision to remain on defense. He said that he had only played as a receiver for three years in high school, while he had been playing defensive positions his entire life.He entered the 2009 season
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
as the backup to senior strong safety Jamari McCollough and backup punt returner to Tony Logan. Safeties coach Kevin Lempa and defensive coordinator Don Brown
Don Brown (American football coach)
Don Brown is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut, a position he has held since February 2011...
said Tate would see a significant amount of playing time at various positions: safety, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, and cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. Tate received high praise during and after the summer, and The Baltimore Sun called him one of the "August standouts", alongside wide receiver . Head coach Friedgen called his camp performance "sensational", while Maryland quarterback Chris Turner
Chris Turner (American football)
Chris Turner is an American football quarterback. He played quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland from 2007 to 2009...
said, "Kenny is a problem. His instincts are so advanced, the way he times up the count when he is blitzing and plays in coverage and reads receivers and reads me and the space he covers just with his wingspan alone, it is really impressive to see. It's something else."
During the season, Tate saw action in ten games, including four starts. He missed the final two contests against Florida State
2009 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2009 college football season. The Seminoles were led by 34th year head coach Bobby Bowden...
and Boston College
2009 Boston College Eagles football team
The 2009 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College in the 2009 season as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles were led by first-year head coach Frank Spaziani. He replaced Jeff Jagodzinski who was fired after the 2008 season...
after he suffered a severe ankle sprain against Virginia Tech
2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer...
. Tate amassed 47 tackles and 1.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. He made his career first unassisted sack against Clemson
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
quarterback Kyle Parker
Kyle Parker (American football)
Kyle James Parker is an outfielder in the Colorado Rockies organization.After spending the 2009 season as the starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers, Parker was drafted by the Colorado Rockies as the 26th overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft...
. After the season, he said, "It's a privilege to play . . . Just getting hurt last year, I had not missed a game since I was in like eighth grade. That hurt me, to miss those last two games and to not practice. It hurt me inside. I was just like, when I get my opportunity, every play, every down, I'm just going to go hard."
2010 season
Before the season, The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
considered him a "valuable asset" to second-year defensive coordinator Don Brown
Don Brown (American football coach)
Don Brown is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut, a position he has held since February 2011...
's aggressive system. In the season opener against Navy
2010 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 2010 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen, led by third-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, competed as an Independent and played their home games at the Navy – Marine Corps Memorial...
at M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Tate stopped a quarterback keeper
Quarterback keeper
A quarterback keeper or keeper in American football is a designed play in which the quarterback does not pass or hand off the ball to another player and instead rushes forward with it in an effort to gain yardage...
by Ricky Dobbs
Ricky Dobbs
Ricky Dobbs is a United States Navy officer and former college football quarterback for the United States Naval Academy. During the 2009 season he broke the single season college football record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 27.-High school:Dobbs was known as "the Mayor" by...
on the goal line
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
, which preserved a 17–14 Maryland victory in the closing minutes. During the game, he compiled a career high 12 tackles and forced two fumbles, one of which halted a potential scoring drive inside the Maryland five-yard line. For his performance against Navy, the Atlantic Coast Conference named Tate its Defensive Back of the Week. The Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
named him the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and added him to the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
Watch List. Against 21st-ranked West Virginia
2010 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2010 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2010. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They were members of the Big East...
, Tate intercepted a pass thrown by Jock Sanders
Jock Sanders
Jock Sanders is a gridiron football slotback and running back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at West Virginia....
on a halfback option play
Halfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....
, and returned it 53 yards. Against Duke
2010 Duke Blue Devils football team
The 2010 Duke Blue Devils football team represented Duke University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Devils were led by 3rd year head coach David Cutcliffe and played their home games at Wallace Wade Stadium. They are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Coastal...
, Tate harassed quarterback Sean Renfree and compiled 1.5 sacks, including one that forced a fumble during a drive deep in Maryland territory.
Personal life
Tate is studying businessBusiness
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
at the University of Maryland. His pre-game routine consists of eating two jelly sandwiches, a habit that he formed in the eighth grade. During his freshman season, Tate roomed with two other players who saw action in their first year: cornerback Cameron Chism and running back Davin Meggett
Davin Meggett
Davin Meggett is an American college football running back for the Maryland Terrapins. He currently is the starting running back for the Terrapins. He is the son of former NFL player Dave Meggett.-Early life:...
.
External links
- Status quo for Kenny Tate, The Baltimore Sun, October 2007.
- Kenny Tate - WR, ESPN, retrieved July 3, 2009.