Arizona Football Receives Commitment from Former Minor League Baseball Player Donovan Tate
In a bit of unique recruiting news, Arizona Football gains a commitment from a former four-star QB and minor league baseball player, Donavan Tate.
Some people get second chances in life, and that’s what seems to have happened with Donavan Tate, a former high school star, who turned down football for baseball in 2009. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the ’09 MLB Draft. Eight years later, Tate has decided to pursue a new opportunity with the Arizona Football team.
I'm told new Arizona QB Dovavan Tate will be a walk-on. Padres, who picked him No. 3 overall in 09 MLB draft, will pay his college costs.
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) May 4, 2017
Drafted third overall by the San Diego Padres in 2009 (ahead of big league stars Mike Trout, and AJ Pollock), Tate was a talented athlete in high school that turned down his verbal commitment to North Carolina to instead play baseball professionally.
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A career riddled with injury, and some unwise off-field choices, he bounced around the Padres organization, as well as with the Los Angeles Dodgers, never making it past high, Single-A level. Due to some issues with substance abuse, Tate also had checked into rehab, getting his life back on track, and since seems to have turned some things around.
On Thursday, word officially came out that Tate would be taking his talents to Tucson, and will actually walk-on the team. His education? Well, all that will be paid for by the Padres, since it was in his initial contract.
Certainly, a little bit of a risk, since Tate will be 27 years old by the time the 2017 season kicks off. Also, could he scare away some other quarterbacks currently on roster?
A possible plus, is that he’s got four years of eligibility, so he could potentially be a 30-year old senior.
However, with that said, it’s also a bit of a win-win. Arizona struggled mightily at quarterback last year, and Rodriguez seems to have brought in more players that will hopefully, in turn, create enough competition, testing his guys, thus improving the production at the position.
Donovan Tate (no relation to Khalil Tate) was a standout in high school, and was/ is a great athlete. If he doesn’t work out, no big deal, he just becomes one of many football players on a college football team. If he does, the Rodriguez will have gotten a huge steal in Tate.
After all, former baseball players turned college athletes have found some success in doing so; remember the names, Brandon Weeden or Chris Weinke?
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I for one am excited about the addition. He’s an experienced athlete, yeah he may be a bit rusty having not played football in some time, but he was once a good QB. It’s worth the risk, and hopefully, raises the level of competition which is never a bad thing if you want to win.