ASU’s Harry, UA’s Tate land on Athlon’s preseason All-American team
Jun 19, 2018, 8:40 AM
Arizona State receiver N’Keal Harry and Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate were named to Athlon’s 2018 preseason All-American team on Tuesday.
Harry, who was selected to Athlon’s All-American second team, enters his junior season coming off a 1,000-yard year in 2017 that also included 73 receptions and seven touchdowns for the Sun Devils.
He returns to a team led by first-year head coach Herm Edwards and an offense directed by first-year offensive coordinator Rob Likens. Promoted from his position as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, Likens — not to mention senior quarterback Manny Wilkins — is expected to help the 6-foot-4 Harry take another step forward.
Tate earned a selection to Athlon’s All-American third team and barring any unforeseen circumstances as a junior will enter the season as the Wildcats’ starter for the first time. The quarterback is also heading into 2018 under a first-year head coach, Kevin Sumlin.
The 6-foot-2 Tate took over for former starter Brandon Dawkins a third of the way through the 2017 season and led Arizona with 1,289 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns and eight interceptions.
It was his 1,353 rushing yards and 10.2 yards per carry to go with 12 touchdowns on the ground that helped him burst onto the scene as one of the most explosive players in college football last year.
Tate and Harry were two of 18 players from Pac-12 schools to make the Athlon All-American team. Eight of those players made the first team, a league-high among power conferences.
