Miami Hurricanes need to inquire about former Heisman QB Candidate

Arizona Wildcats starting quarterback Khalil Tate who was a Heisman Trophy Candidate at the beginning of 2018 before injuries derailed his candidacy is reportedly considering a transfer from Tucson. The Miami Hurricanes should inquire about bringing him to Coral Gables.

The Miami Hurricanes were initially one of the teams that were in the running to land former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant before he audibled his plans to take an official visit to Coral Gables and instead went to Auburn, Alabama.

Tate took College football by storm last season. He was supernatural in the first four complete games he played in in 2017. Tate replaced former Arizona starter Brandon Dawkins in the Wildcats fifth game of the season against Colorado. Dawkins transferred to Indiana following the 2017 season.

Tate came off the bench against the Buffaloes and completed 12 of 13 passes for 154 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. It was what he did on the ground that was superhero or video game like.

In the first extended playing time during his collegiate career, Tate ran 14 times for an FBS record by a quarterback 327 yards and four touchdowns. Over the next four games, Tate made sure his performance was not a fluke.

Against Colorado, UCLA, California and Washington State, Tate ran for 840 yards and eight touchdowns and completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 743 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He finished the 2017 season with 1,411 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games.

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/27/2018.

Tate’s 128.27 rushing yards per game was seventh in the country and led the country with 9.22 yards per carry. With Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez fired following the 2017 season, Tate’s game changed drastically in 2018.

Several reports have indicated that Tate is not happy at Arizona under former Texas A&M and Houston Head Coach Kevin Sumlin who succeded Rodriguez. Tate threw for 2,530 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2018. He ran for just 225 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries this season.

Tate struggled in 2017 with an ankle injury. The possibility of Tate wanting to transfer came from multiple sources. Tate is a Junior and would have one season of eligibility remaining. He has a pair of options. Tate could declare for the NFL draft as a Junior or he could transfer and have immediate eligibility elsewhere as a Graduate Transfer.

If Miami did land Tate he would be the ideal quarterback for what Mark Richt has said he’s looking for. In the past two seasons, Richt has said he wants a quarterback that is a dual threat. Someone that is equally adept at throwing the football and running. A signal caller that’s proficient in the run-pass option.

Tate has completed 56.8 percent of his passes for 4,364 yards, and 8.3 yards per attempt average. The Miami Hurricanes passing offense has been one of the worst in the country this season. The Canes were 115th in completion percentage,109th in passing yards per game and 112th in yards per attempt.

Tate could also give the Hurricanes a big boost in the running game. While his numbers on the ground were significantly less than last season Tate still ran for 67 yards more than N’Kosi Perry this season. Tate played in only one more game then Perry in 2018.

If the Hurricanes decide to go to the spread Tate’s rushing numbers would likely revert back to what they were in 2017. Former Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez was one of the innovators of the spread offense. Rodriguez was replaced by former Texas A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin after he was fired by the Aggies.