OT: RichRod's New QB is a 26-Year-Old He Recruited at Michigan

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on

This happened a few days ago, but I didn't see it reported on the board. Arizona just signed a 26-year-old walk-on freshman quarterback named Donovan Tate - a recruit from the 2009 class that RichRod had recruited while he was at Michigan. I found at least one MGoBlog post from the past that said Tate was actually on campus for a visit.

http://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/donavan-tate-former-m…

Tate is a baseball prospect who flamed out because of injuries and substance abuse, and now he's trying football. He committed to North Carolina in 2009, but decided to play baseball when the Padres made him the No. 3 overall pick (taking him ahead of Mike Trout).

Arizona people are saying he has a great chance of being RichRod's starter this season. By way of historical perspective, he was in the same recruiting class as Matt Barkley and Manti T'eo. Our top recuits that year were Craig Roh and Will Campbell.

uncle leo

May 11th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^

I have never encountered people in my daily life with the first or last name Tate.

But every other QB in college football has some form of Tate in their name.

PapabearBlue

May 11th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^

I learned a long time ago that if you want your children to be prolific in sports that naming them something less traditional is definitely the way to go.

PapabearBlue

May 11th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^

I learned a long time ago that if you want your children to be prolific in sports that naming them something less traditional is definitely the way to go.

Kevin13

May 11th, 2017 at 9:30 AM ^

even if he doesn't play just getting his life straightened out and getting a degree would be good for him.  Good luck to him.

MH20

May 11th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^

Another disaster season could be the end for Rich considering the guy who brought him to Arizona is no longer there (Greg Byrne left to be AD at Bama).  OTOH, football is decidedly second fiddle to basketball so maybe no one will care if they suck again.

AC1997

May 11th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^

I had totally forgot about that brief Paulus story.  I have defended RichRod more than most and think he got a raw deal in many ways......but he also tried to shoot himself in the foot a few times.  The fact that so many Michigan fans even thought the Paulus option was viable shows just how broken we were during that decade of dark times.

mgoO

May 11th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^

Um no - he has a returning starter in Dawkins and a talented sophomore that was forced to play last year due to injuries to Solomon and Dawkins (another Tate actually) that are both way ahead of Rhett Rod on the depth chart

bronxblue

May 11th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^

I sort of am rooting for him. If the guy can overcome his demons and get a degree, that feels like a win. I guess people really dislike RR, but I'm never going to hate on a guy trying to fix his life. Plus, imagine if Henson had been given a chance to come back after the Yankees dropped him?

copacetic

May 11th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^

Has anyone ever seen this guy and Tate Forcier in the same room?? 

Let's look at the FACTS:

 
Robert Patrick TATE Forcier born August 7, 1990.... age 26. 

Donavan TATE is 26.

Tate last successfully played QB when coached by Rich Rod. 

Tate has just signed to play QB for Rich Rod. 

Both recruited by Rich Rod at Michigan.

Coincidence??1? 

blueblueblue

May 11th, 2017 at 10:28 AM ^

Not a RR fan, but I'll be rooting for this QB. The prevalence of second opportunities, the abiltiy to have a renaissance, is what makes the US (and other similar countries) great. 

Witz57

May 11th, 2017 at 10:38 AM ^

I remember when he was drafted.  He was one of those great athelete / super high-ceiling tools guys but totally raw (read: not yet good) as a baseball player. Sometimes those guys work out, but even without the drugs and injuries he had pretty high bust potential.

SCarolinaMaize

May 11th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^

There are a lot of politics involved in the MLB ranks as well.  Don't know this guys story, but do know a former first rounder that was floated around the minors until his contract was up.  He opted to get out instead of looking for a new contract or trade.

bluesalt

May 11th, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^

He just wasn't very good. Career .226 hitter with 10 HR in over 1000 at bats, and never made it above A-ball in 8 seasons. Add to that the injuries, drug-abuse, and resultant suspension, and if anything politics kept giving him chances, since the Padres had invested nearly $7 million in him.

Cruzcontrol75

May 11th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^

DickRod doesn't do defense, remember? How bad was the U of A defense? Washington – in late September – marked the only Pac-12 opponent Arizona held under 34 points in regulation. That’s right: In October and November, Arizona didn’t hold one Pac-12 foe under 34 points. Stanford – with a broken-down offense and a lack of a passing game – hit 34. Utah, UCLA, and the rest of an inconsistent Pac-12 South reached that number.

big mac 22

May 11th, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^

saw him play when he was in high school against my alma matter here in Georgia, helluva an athlete. Was known as a better DB than QB. Fun fact, he is the son of former UGA running back Lars Tate. Still lives in Cartersville GA , home of top rated 2018 player Trevor Lawrence. In fact, until Lawrence beat us last year, the last time our team was beat at home was 9 years ago by Tate.

 

Ben v2

May 12th, 2017 at 1:49 AM ^

RR still has a job at the U of A because Greg Byrne, the AD who hired him, left before last season ended.  It took U of A until March to find a replacement, who happens to be Dave Heeke from CMU.  Unless Heeke pulls a page out of the Illinois playbook and hire Mike Debord in August, RR has one more year to prove himself.

However, assistants and recruits are well aware of RR's lack of security.  They would not have had to turn to Donovan Tate if their recruiting didn't crash.