Draft Season

Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame
Height: 5;11" Weight: 195


Golden Tate was one of the most explosive players in the country in the 2009 Season. It seemed like he was scoring a TD on about every play. His highlight reel is long and impressive. But will it translate to the NFL? I think it will, and I believe he'll be picked somewhere in the late 1st round.

The reason he succeeds in the NFL is his athleticism is going with him and he plays much bigger than his size. He can go up and get the ball over the top of taller defenders. He has adequate speed to stretch the field and he can take the underneath route. He has great ball skills, with the ablility to take a 5 yard pass, make some people miss, and turn it into a 75 yard TD. He will be able to lineup outside or in the slot. He's one of the most NFL ready WR's in this draft, coming from a pro system at Notre Dame. Also he plays with heart and loves the game. Showed good leadership in college and shows intelligence on the field. Golden has shown he can make the acrobatic catch.

He's not a great route runner right now as most college WR's aren't. There are questions if he can beat the jam and get off the line at the next level, but i think he will with his shiftiness and quickness. For a player of his size usually to be this highly regarded you have to have elite speed which he doesn't. Last he's not a great blocker.

I think Tate is a mix between Steve Smith of Carolina and Percy Harvin. He will go get the deep ball like Smith does despite his size. In the open field he'll be a playmaker as Percy Harvin is. That is quite a player and whoever lands Tate in the draft will be getting a quality WR.

Stats at Notre Dame:
2007: 6 catches, 131 yards, 1 TD 1 carry, 4 yards 15 KR, 326 yards
2008: 58 catches, 1,080 yards, 10 TD 5 carries, 37 yards, 1 TD 26 KR, 521 yards 24PR,116
2009: 93 catches, 1,496 yards, 15 TD 25 carries, 186 yards, 2 TD 3 KR, 52 yards 32PR,171,
1TD