In some ways, Khalil Tate is no different than any other teenager. The Arizona Wildcats quarterback used to play the NCAA Football video game. He would create himself in the Road to Glory mode.
Thats the closest I ever got to thinking about being the Heisman, Tate said Wednesday.
The difference between Tate and most others is that he has a chance to win the Heisman Trophy someday maybe even this year.
Tate remains a long shot 3翻 weeks away from the Dec. 9 Heisman presentation. As things currently stand, college footballs most prized individual award is Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfields to lose.
But things can change, and Tate is gaining ground. , Tate received the third-most votes behind Mayfield and Stanford running back Bryce Love. If that were to hold, Tate would become the first Wildcat to receive an invitation to New York for the Heisman ceremony.
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Despite his virtual aspirations, winning the Heisman never was something Tate dreamed about. His goals for this season were as follows: Be the best version of me. Be the best person that I can be. And on top of that, help my team be successful.
The latter is a consistent theme for Tate, who always figured that individual accolades would accompany team success. They have gone hand in hand since he took over at quarterback Oct. 7.
Tate has led Arizona (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) to five victories in six games. He has set records and ranks at or near the top nationally in several statistical categories information that is readily available on a new web page the UA athletic department created thats basically a Tate FAQ.
On Wednesday, Tate was named one of 15 players to watch for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He already was a semifinalist for the Davey OBrien and Maxwell awards. The idea of Tate being a Heisman contender is becoming a reality.
He wasnt even the starter at the beginning of the year. That doesnt usually happen, said UA coach Rich Rodriguez, whose team visits Oregon on Saturday. Its fun for the program. Its fun for Khalil. Well make sure it doesnt change who he is or how we do things.
Rodriguez has been privy to this sort of meteoric rise once before. Pat White didnt become the full-time starting quarterback at West Virginia until about halfway through his redshirt-freshman year. He would win the Big East Offensive Player of the Year award each of the next two seasons. He finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Heisman voting in 2007 and 08.
It felt similar in that it kind of came out of nowhere, Rodriguez said. Who is this guy?
Of course Tate would like to win the Heisman. Its not his top priority, though.
Thats more materialistic. Ive never been a materialistic person, Tate said. Its a great honor, but its not my main goal right now. My main goal is to win the rest of the games for this season.
Tates outward indifference about the Heisman belies the competitiveness that simmers within him. He cried on the field after Arizona lost at USC on Nov. 4. He equates losing to failing and compared the pain to the anguish one feels when your dog passes away.
Whenever somebody loses something that they love, theyre going to cry, I would think, Tate said. You like losing? I dont think anybody does.
Whenever I lose, I take it to heart.
Tates personality has won over his teammates. Many have mentioned how he talks to players on all three units offense, defense and special teams. None seem envious of his success.
If guys are on the ground hes like, Help pick em up, lets go. He motivates everybody on the team, center Nathan Eldridge said. That pushes us. And then once he gets rolling, were rolling, and its hard to stop us.
Several UA players have shown their support by voting for Tate in . That means as much to Tate perhaps even more than getting votes from ESPNs panel of experts.
Asked about the players backing Tate, UA quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said: Tells you a lot about the kid, dont it? Your team will never lie to you. They gravitate to the player. They gravitate to the person.
Extra points
- Is there any animosity between Arizona and Oregon because of the handful of UA commits who ended up in Eugene? No, not really, Rodriguez said. Youre not happy that it happened. Youre particularly not happy because you see them and theyre playing for them. I guess we were recruiting the right guys.
- Rodriguez on his relationship with Oregon coach Willie Taggart. I dont know him that well. Ive met him a few times. Weve met at the Pac-12 meetings. I think hes done an outstanding job.
- Linebackers coach Scott Boone said freshman Anthony Pandy has a really high upside. Pandy is the backup Will and plays stand-up defensive end in the dime. Hes still learning the intricacies of inside linebacker.
- Transfer Dereck Boles has been Arizonas best defensive tackle. Rodriguez says Boles will be even better with an offseason in the weight program. I expect a huge year from him next year, Rodriguez said.
- Rodriguez on first-year coordinator Jim Leavitt and the Oregon defense: Hes done a great job everywhere hes been. Theyre sound fundamentally. Theyre athletic. Theyre long. And theyre playing really hard. The Ducks rank fourth in the Pac-12 in total defense and second in run defense.
- The Arizona offense has been working with crowd noise piped into the practice field all week. Rodriguez anticipates Autzen Stadium will be the loudest venue the Wildcats have played in this season. Arizona uses a lot of nonverbal communication anyway, but Rodriguez said weve gotta have some answers if players cant hear Tates checks.
- Three pro scouts attended practice Wednesday, including one from the Baltimore Ravens.
