Arizona’s Khalil Tate has another big night in win over UCLA
Oct 14, 2017, 9:52 PM
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate (14) stiff arms UCLA defensive back Jaleel Wadood (4) and scores a touchdown in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate was the Walter Camp National Player of the Week after his performance against Colorado last week and even earned the attention of LeBron James.
Surely he couldn’t top that the following week, right?
While 327 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground and 154 yards with another score through the air is tough to improve on, Tate sure came close Saturday against UCLA.
He dominated the game again, rushing for 230 yards with two touchdowns and throwing for 148 yards and a score in the Wildcats’ 47-30 win over UCLA.
On top of Tate reaching over 200 yards rushing, running back Nick Wilson added on another 135 and two touchdowns of his own.
Tate did something no FBS quarterback has done in two decades, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Khalil Tate is the first FBS QB to record at least 200 rush yards in consecutive games since Chris McCoy for Navy in 1997 pic.twitter.com/PPULOyx51D
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 15, 2017
The sophomore got started early, rushing for a 45-yard touchdown a little over a minute into the game in Tucson.
45 yards to the house. #BearDown #HardEdge pic.twitter.com/j7T6fAPkbg
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 15, 2017
Tate showed how comfortable he felt leading his team, mixing in some pump fakes on his runs as well.
Hit 'em with the pump fake, Khalil! 😯 pic.twitter.com/lJ10UbTNa0
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 15, 2017
He would do it with his arm as well, throwing a beautiful 53-yard completion to Shun Brown.
Here’s that beautiful pass from Tate to Brown that set up the scoring drive. #BearDown #HardEdge pic.twitter.com/Y1cIbCa3Ui
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 15, 2017
One of those plays would have been the top highlight for most quarterbacks around the country, but not Tate.
His second rushing touchdown of the night went 71 yards, and the most impressive aspect of the run had to be the two different times the run could have been a loss had it not been for Tate’s elusiveness to get by Bruins defenders.
Most quarterbacks would have taken a sack on this play. Khalil Tate is not most quarterbacks. pic.twitter.com/No60HSFWIc
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 15, 2017
Tate’s second big-time performance comes on the heels of head coach Rich Rodriguez not naming him as the starter over Brandon Dawkins despite the way Tate played against the Buffaloes. After another standout game, though, it’s difficult to see Tate not being the definitive No. 1 from this point going forward.
