Tate back on the gridiron

Donavan Tate just couldn't stay away from football. This Rivals100 member is widely considered one of the top baseball prospects in the country. Late in the summer, he decided to strictly concentrate on baseball and give up football. He played in several national baseball tournaments in late July and August. School started for him at Cartersville (Ga.) High School on August 18th. Roughly a week later, Tate had a change of heart.

"Donavan came to me and said he wanted to play football this season after all,"said Cartersville Head Coach Frank Barden. "He just didn't want to look back at this time and live with the regret of not playing the game. He just loves football too much."

Last season as a junior Tate played quarterback on offense. This season for Cartersville he will play wide receiver but mainly play safety for his high school team.

"That seemed like the best fit for us this season, Donavan playing safety. That's the position I would play him in college if it were me. But I tell you what, if he decided to play football 365 days a year he would make a great quarterback, especially in today's game (spread offense). A bunch of coaches that came by this spring liked him as an athlete or safety when watching him on film. Then they saw him in person and most think he could be a great quarterback."

According to Barden, Tate will sign with some college to play football in February. He will take his official visits after the season, just like a former two-star baseball/football standout some years before. But baseball will likely be too hard to walk away from, especially considering he should be one of the first selections in June's Major League Baseball Draft,

"I think he will do what (Jeff) Francoeur did. Everyone knows what kind of baseball player he is. But there are a bunch of (college) teams that still want to sign him like Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, USC, and others."

Cartersville is 2-0 on the season. They face a very good Calhoun County team tonight. Last week, Tate saw action for the first time this season, mainly playing on defense. He only saw one play at wide receiver.