Many might consider Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin as the biggest all-purpose weapon in the country, but it looks like North Carolina senior receiver/returner Brandon Tate is trying to give him a serious run for his money.
In North Carolina’s 44-12 road rout of Rutgers last night, Tate had four catches for 138 yards and a 69-yard touchdown, two rushes for 19 yards and a 12-yard touchdown, and added 62 return yards on three returns (58 on two kick returns, one punt return for four yards), giving him 219 all-purpose yards.
The receiving yards were a career-high, but all told, you might consider last night’s performance a letdown, as it followed a 397-yard performance against McNeese State, in which he had 97 yards receiving and a 57-yard score, 106 yards rushing on three carries (54, 20, and 32 yards), a 56-yard kick return, and three punt returns for 142 yards and an 82-yard score (the other two were 38 and 22 yards).
That’s 616 all-purpose yards, four touchdowns, four total plays of more than 50 yards, and eight of more than 30 yards (he also had a 42-yard catch last night, and I‘m not counting the 32-yard kick return he had) in only two games.
Tate’s been a dangerous return man throughout his career at North Carolina, with five return touchdowns heading into this season (now six), and he had a breakout season as a receiver last year.
But, he’s gotten off to a blistering start in the first couple of games and has been a major factor in UNC’s 2-0 start. Those big plays have come in handy, which covers the ‘clutch’ category.
After McNeese State took a 20-14 lead in the third quarter, Tate turned things around moments later with his 57-yard touchdown catch that gave the Tar Heels a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
And last night, he blew a close game open with his two touchdowns. After a Rutgers field goal made it 10-6, Tate’s long touchdown catch on the next play from scrimmage made it 17-6 late in the second quarter, and in the third, his touchdown run made it 24-6 and helped put the game out of reach.
Offensively, it helps that T.J. Yates is greatly improved and that defenses also have to worry about Hakeem Nicks, who had six catches and two scores against the Scarlet Knights.
He may be on the outskirts of the Heisman race right now, but if the Tar Heels can keep winning and make a serious run at the ACC title, and he can continue to put up the amazing numbers and make big plays, he’ll definitely get some votes.
