Arizona Quarterback Commit Khalil Tate – Get Ready for Mr. Versatility

ZZ: What drives you as an athlete? Do you have a mantra or something you tell yourself to keep motivated?

Arizona Wildcats

Khalil: What drives me as an athlete is my youth football experience (over 10,000 passing and 3,000 rushing yards as a QB) playing for the Inglewood Jr. All-American Football League. This football league has a big legacy, and the bar to succeed was set very high because of our famous alumni. 

A lot of our alumni currently play professional football and basketball: Marcellus Wiley – Sports Nation, Curtis Conway – ESPN/PAC-12 Network, DeSean Jackson – Washington Redskins, Orlando Scandrick – Dallas Cowboys, Paul Pierce – Washington Wizards, Trevor Ariza – Houston Rockets, Marqise Lee – Jacksonville Jaguars, and Byron Scott – LA Lakers Head Coach and the list goes on.

So my motivation comes from their work ethic and knowing about the legacy of those men and how they were successful in college and in their professions. And also what drives me is my own youth ball playing experience because of the high level of competition and expectations to succeed. I’m looking forward to having a successful football career after high school.

ZZ: Is there a certain college and/or professional football player you pattern your style of play after? What are you working on during this time prior to coming to the U of A?

Photo taken by Lelsi Tate

Khalil: I pattern my style of play after Donovan McNabb.  This season I’m working on strengthening my leadership skills prior to coming to U of A.  My style is to lead by example but I’m working on being more vocal on the sideline.

ZZ: I’ve read that you are playing or working out as both a QB and a WR, do you prefer one over the other? What do you like most about each position?

Khalil: I am a QB and have been since I was five years old.  I love playing QB and the responsibilities of leading my team.  At two camps this off-season I took some reps at WR to kill time because there were more QBs there than WRs.  I love playing football so I was just having some fun, nothing more.

Next: Khalil Tate is coming to Tucson earlier than we all thought! What's next?