RECRUITING : Harrison tight end real go-getter on, off the field

OTIS KIRK

Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/231221/

FAYETTEVILLE — Harrison tight end Austin Tate was one of the many Division I recruits on the Arkansas campus this weekend competing in the Vype Select 7-on-7 tournament.

Tate, 6-6, 230 pounds, 4. 7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has given an oral commitment to Arkansas and is rated the nation’s No. 47 tight end by Rivals. com, which also rates Tate a three-star recruit. Tate caught seven passes in Saturday morning’s action, including two for touchdowns in a victory against Hot Springs Lakeside.

“This is a lot of fun,” Tate said. “I get to get out and run and see what I can do. I read defenses and it makes me better for the season.”

While the tight end isn’t asked to block in 7-on-7 play, participating does allow Tate to get used to working with his quarterback, senior Hayden Stokes.

“Timing is the essential key to all the passing game and everything,” Tate said. “Your timing has got to be there. This is a great thing to do during the summer.”

While some fans come to these events to see future Razorbacks, Tate refuses to let any publicity go to his head.

“If it wasn’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be open, and if it wasn’t for my quarterback, I wouldn’t get the ball,” Tate said. “It’s not really me. It’s us instead of me.”

Harrison Coach Tommy Tice has sent several athletes to Arkansas and is happy one as talented as Tate is headed to Fayetteville after the 2008 season.

“He can go get the ball,” Tice said. “He can catch it. I like to tell people he can catch a BB in a hail storm. He has really soft hands. Also, when the ball goes in the air he can accelerate to it.”

While Tate is quick to credit teammates, he has some obvious talent that led Rivals. com to rate him the No. 6 player in the state.

“My size is one of my strengths,” Tate said. “All my coaches tell me my speed is deceiving, and I feel like I have gotten faster. I catch it pretty good. I’m pretty decent at blocking, but I’m going to work really hard at it in the upcoming two-a-day drills.”

Tate showed enough speed Saturday to get behind the Lakeside secondary for a long catch. He caught 48 passes for 637 yards and 8 touchdowns last season.

“Everybody can always get a little faster,” Tate said. “I need to put on some weight and some muscle.”

Tate wasted no time in accepting the Razorbacks’ scholarship offer.

“It meant a lot,” he said. “I have always come over here just in awe of the facilities and everything over here. To possibly be a part of it is just something that is going to be really great.”

Tate is looking forward to learning under Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino, who is recognized as one of the top offensive minds in college football.

“I have spoken to him and he’s a really great guy,” Tate said. “All those coaches are great. They are just class acts and I’m really looking forward to getting over here.

“ I know Coach Petrino has been at that upper level so he knows what he is talking about, and I’m all ears.”

Tice feels Arkansas is getting an athlete who can help on and off the field.

“His leadership has been fantastic,” Tice said. “He’s always there working his tail off. He’s a ‘yes, sir, no, sir’ kid who is a 4. 0 student. You can hug him any time during the day or night because you always know where he is going to be. He will be doing what he is supposed to be doing.”

Tice said Tate benefits from his support group.

“You have got to know the family,” Tice said. “The family is so solid. That’s one thing is that he has a great support group, a support group that not only loves him when he is doing good, but loves him enough to kick his tail end when he is doing bad.”