Read opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about who they believe is the best underclassman coming out of college in the NFL draft.
The deadline for underclassman to declare for the NFL draft has now passed and the list is impressive. I recommend fans of both pro and college football review it. There are some excellent players in the junior class entering the NFL this season.
In some ways underclassman have a much more difficult pathway toward stardom in the NFL. The threshold for success is high – unfair or not – because the talent is so enormous that a senior season is unnecessary. The already high expectations are increased even further because of the need for rookies to contribute right away. Very few players can rise to high expectations like the conditions outlined in my example. The ideal player must have played on a big stage, performed well, and made plays when it counted. When all of those considerations are balanced against the equal importance of physical talent, one player stands out more than the others – Notre Dame junior wide receiver Golden Tate.
Tate may seem on the small side. He is 5-11 and a stout 195 pounds. But he is the prototypical slot receiver in the NFL because he is tough, has great hands, and excellent body control in traffic. He is the type of physical specimen scouts crave, and has the hands quarterbacks covet.
Tate was the recipient of many postseason awards, achievements he earned through performance… not because of where he played or who his quarterback was. Tate was named first team All-American by the Associated Press and was a Walter Camp first team All-American. He of course won the 2009 Biletnikoff Trophy, too.
What earned him the hardware? A season of 93 catches, 1,496 yards receiving, 15 receiving touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. Few players in college football made the type of impact Tate did, and he will earn his way onto an NFL team as a result. The pick will be high, and the road to success may be tricky depending on which team gets to draft Tate. But Tate will impact the game in a good way early and often.
The pro game is different, and scouts have a good handle on Tate’s potential impact. Receivers must be strong to fight through bump coverage at the line. Since Tate does not yet possess the recovery speed to stretch routes after fighting through a bump, he is an inside receiver. He can use his strength to break through defensive backs and operate within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage. Once he catches the ball the former running back showed many skills in turning small plays into big plays. Tate compares favorably to a player like Hines Ward. Tough, smart, and great after the catch.
While Tate has the receiving skills and physicality to make an impact quickly in the NFL catching the ball, to earn playing time on a good team he must be multi-dimensional as a receiver. In short, Tate must learn to block. His hands are good, he runs sharp patterns, sits in zones, understands how to get open, runs effectively after the catch, etc. But, he has to block.
Tate is not the fastest receiver in the draft. He is not the tallest receiver in the draft. He is likely not the most complete receiver in the draft, either. But, he is one of the best players, and without a doubt the best underclassman. Tate will have an impact early in the season and provide the type of inside receiving talent that complements big play outside threats.
