Brandon Tate | North Carolina, WR : 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 8/24/08: #44 WR, #352/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: FA
2007: 12 GP; 12 GS; Rush: 12-131-10.9-1; Rec: 25-479-19.2-5; PR: 23-216-9.4-1 KR: 39-939-24.1-0; 1 Sol-1 TT; Honorable Mention All--ACC kick and punt returner. Needed just three seasons to set ACC career records for kickoff return yards (2,383) and returns (98)...Led the ACC with 147.1 all-purpose yards per game...Tallied 1,765 all-purpose yards and a team-high seven touchdowns...Averaged 17.8 yards per touch (1,765 yards on 99 touches)...Recorded 479 yards receiving on just 25 catches (19.2 yards/catch) and tallied five receiving touchdowns...Averaged 24.1 yards per kickoff return and 9.4 yards per punt return with one score...2006: 12 GP; 0 GS; Rush: 3-20-6.7-0; Rec: 5-72-14.4-0; PR: 20-194-9.7-1 KR: 38-902-23.7-2; One of only nine players in NCAA history to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same game (Duke, 2006)...Single-season and career school recorder holder for kickoff returns for touchdowns (2 in 2006, 3 in career)...Tied the ACC single-season record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2006...Set single-season school record with 902 kickoff return yards in 2006...Ranked second in the ACC in punt return average (9.7) and sixth in kickoff return average (23.7)...Led the ACC and was one of only three players in the country with two kickoff returns for touchdowns...2005: 11 GP; 0 GS; PR: 29-267-9.2-0 KR: 21-542-25.8-1; 2005 Honorable-Mention All-ACC...Played in all 11 games as the kick returner...One of seven true freshman to see action...Had 21 kickoff returns for 542 yards, an average of 25.8, and 29 punt returns for 267 yards, an average of 9.2...Ranked 22nd in the country in kickoff returns...His brother, Barry, plays football at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Post-Draft Outlook: COULD SURPRISE: North Carolina receiver Brandon Tate, another kick-return specialist, could play the role Bethel Johnson never did in his short stint with the Patriots. The upshot is, he's an even better receiver than Johnson ever was. Tate nearly broke the NCAA record for kick-return yardage and established himself as a two-way threat by playing receiver and defensive back. In fact, this could be the perfect makeup pick after Matthew Slater bottomed out trying to play a similar role in 2008. A closer look at the Patriots' picks: 3/83 -- Brandon Tate, WR, 6-0, 183, North Carolina...The Patriots were too top-heavy at receiver last year and they could always use more help on special teams -- especially with Ellis Hobbs dealt to Philadelphia -- so acquiring Tate makes sense. He's known more for his exploits in the kick-return game, which means his speed can be a valuable asset in two phases of the game. Tate also played defensive back at times, so there's a possibility the Patriots can utilize him a number of roles. They've done it in the past, such as when they used Troy Brown as a nickel back in an emergency role. - by The Sports Xchange