Khalil Tate is returning to Arizona, and that’s a good thing!

More good news for Arizona Football, as quarterback Khalil Tate has decided he will return for his senior season with the Wildcats.

Okay, so 2018 didn’t quite live up to the billing like we had hoped, but perhaps 2019 can be better? Well, one way that could happen, is contingent on the return of quarterback, Khalil Tate.

Following the 2018 season, there were mixed reactions to the results and production of Tate, leading to plenty of debate and rumors in the off-season as to whether he would, or should return to the Wildcats.

Arizona Wildcats

We must note, that no rumors were seemingly solid and was perhaps just hearsay. I guess at this point, we will never know and it’s not really important to speculate either.

Nonetheless, despite the uncertainty, it was announced that Tate will return for his senior season. And that’s a very good thing for Arizona!

If this makes your blood boil or uneasy because you’re in the ‘I hate Tate’ bandwagon, let me just tell you why you’re just plain crazy and flat out wrong for thinking that.

For one, he actually had a decent year last year, and his passing stats prove that. This past season, Tate threw for 2,530 yards (which ranks 8th for a single season in Arizona history). He completed 170 of his 302 attempts (56 percent), with 26 touchdowns (which ranks 5th in program history in a single season) to just eight interceptions.

Where people are losing their focus on, is in his running stats. Compared to his sophomore campaign where Tate burst onto the scene, running for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns, Tate ran for a rather humble 225 yards with two touchdowns in 2018.

But beyond that, the offense still ranked 26th overall in total offense, 41st in passing, and 47th in scoring offense. He was a big part of Arizona’s overall offensive success and there’s no denying that.

There was also no doubt that Arizona’s offense was better with him on the field, than they were without him.

So potentially relying on a true freshman in Grant Gunnell in 2019 as I’m sure some are hoping for, isn’t necessarily the smartest idea or best thing, as freshmen have the biggest adjustment to go through. Playing a tough position like quarterback would be all the more difficult.

While Tate returns for a second year under offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone (assuming they can continue to grow their relationship), a big thing to note, is that another year under Mazzone would be a good thing to happen. It would be another year in the system to learn and get acclimated to each other. After all, last season was the first year under Mazzone’s implementation of the offense.

Next year could be an even better one for him! Plus, having a senior Tate is a big deal strictly from an experience and maturity standpoint, which will come in handy against a tougher schedule in 2019!

Make no mistake, Tate coming back is a good thing!

At Zona Zealots, we are excited for the return of Tate and can’t wait to see what he can accomplish in his senior season! Bear Down, Arizona!