By Todd Bradley, DCSportsFan.com
Special to MaxPreps.com
Over the past five months, DeMatha High School senior football star Kenny Tate has traveled to Cincinnati to play in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge; he has participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio and he has taken recruiting trips to Penn State and the University of Illinois.
His biggest and most important journey, however, will only be two miles long. Tate committed to the University of Maryland last Thursday afternoon live on ComcastSportsNet.
“The process was very long and stressful,” Tate said. “I learned so much. Knowing that coaches wanted me for my talent made me feel so appreciated.”
Tate (6-4, 215) was considered the top recruit in the D.C. area and one of the top wide receivers in the Class of 2008. He held offers from a number of high-ranking Division I schools across the country, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida, Penn State, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Virginia and the University of Illinois, which, along with Maryland, was still in the running for Tate up until his final decision was made. College Park, Md., is only two miles from DeMatha’s campus.
“I thought it was just the best place for me,” Tate said. “Going on my visit, I really felt like I was at home. Even though I was staying in-state, I still felt like that it was a home away from home, but I am still close enough to be with my family.”
One of the most shocking parts of Tate’s decision is that Illinois super recruiter and former Maryland assistant Mike Locksley didn’t get his man. This year alone, Locksley has been responsible for eight of Illinois incoming recruits, four of which hail from Washington, D.C. Dunbar’s Ugochukwu Uzodinma was originally headed to the University of Virginia but changed his mind shortly after. H.D. Woodson’s Tavon Wilson had verbally committed to Maryland, but he decided to join Locksley at Illinois as well.
Locksley is also responsible for the successful recruitment of Ian Thomas (DeMatha ’07) and Arrelious Benn (Dunbar ’07). As a true freshman this year at Illinois, Benn caught a team-high 54 passes for 676 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 158 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score.
But in the end, it was Maryland defensive coordinator Chris Cosh who scored the area’s top 2008 recruit. Tate’s family was also attracted to Ralph Friedgen and what the University of Maryland had to offer.
“I think (Coach Friedgen) is a straight-shooting guy,” Kenny Fields, Tate’s father, said. “He doesn’t tell you anything that you can’t believe. I think he wants what’s best for the kids. He wants them to graduate and that’s what’s most important. Coach Friedgen promised us (graduating) is one thing he can provide.”
Tate will continue to play basketball for DeMatha, but he is looking forward to National Signing Day (Feb. 6) and joining a Maryland offense that is now under the guidance of newly hired James Franklin (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator). Franklin was hired last month and brings a West Coast offense with him.
“I can just go up and watch now,” Tate said. “I know that everyone is coming to a new offense. I get to learn the offense as the other players are learning. As soon as I sign those papers, I’m a Maryland Terrapin.”
Tate, who was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball for DeMatha, is the 20th player in the 2008 class to commit to Maryland. He joins fellow Washington Catholic Athletic Conference seniors A.J. Francis (Gonzaga) and Cameron Chism (Bishop McNamara).
Todd Bradley is the Editor-in-Chief of www.dcsportsfan.com, which covers high school athletics in the Washington, D.C. area. E-mail Todd at editor@dcsportsfan.com.