Top TB Ben Tate Lands UVa Offer

Landing at least one excellent tailback recruit in the 2006 class appears to be a priority for the University of Virginia coaching staff, who have now offered one of the top overall prospects in the state of Maryland in Ben Tate. Tate, a 5-11, 203-pound tailback, rushed for 2,886 yards and 41 touchdowns on 286 carries last season as a junior at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland. He earned consensus first-team all-state honors for his performance.

Tate, who was timed at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash during last year’s Nike camp at Penn State, has now transferred to Snow Hill High School in Newark, Maryland. Snow Hill head coach Stan Griffin is certainly happy to have him as part of his 2005 squad.

“His change of direction is incredible,” Griffin said. “He’s a really good cutter. He has one of the quickest starts I’ve seen. He’s fast, too.”

Of his breakout 2004 season, the ambitious Tate said “I worked very, very hard in the off-season. Ever since I was little I was determined to be the guy from around here that goes to the NFL. My father played in the NFL, but after a couple of years he got cut because he couldn’t pass his physical. I just want to be the one to get past what my dad and my uncle did. I want to be the one to sign the big NFL contract.

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