RichRod: New Arizona Wildcats QB Donavan Tate to provide 'immediate competition'

It doesn’t sound as if Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez plans to bring new quarterback Donavan Tate along slowly.

Appearing on the “AP Top 25 College Football Podcast” last week, Rodriguez said he envisions Tate providing “immediate competition” at the QB position.

Tate, the former No. 3 pick in the MLB draft, is joining the UA football program as a walk-on after his baseball career didn’t work out because of injuries, off-the-field issues and other factors.

Arizona returns 2016 starter Brandon Dawkins and promising sophomore Khalil Tate (no relation). The UA also will add freshman quarterbacks K’Hari Lane and Rhett Rodriguez, Rich’s son.

Donavan Tate hasn’t played organized football since 2008. He will turn 27 in September.

“He’s a grown man,” Rodriguez said on the podcast. “He really wants to do this. He’s a very athletic guy, of course. This is a new phase of his career, and we’re anxious to give him a shot.”

Rodriguez said the opportunity to bring Tate into the fold “kind of happened by chance.” One of Arizona’s analysts brought Tate to Rodriguez’s attention. After researching him and meeting him – and learning it wouldn’t cost the Wildcats a scholarship – Rodriguez decided that Tate would be a worthwhile addition.

“We thought it was a perfect fit,” Rodriguez said.

The host of the podcast, Ralph Russo, also asked Rodriguez about the upcoming season – specifically whether it was a “crucial” one for him given Arizona’s 3-9 record last year and the departure of Athletic Director Greg Byrne, who hired Rodriguez in November 2011.

“There’s always pressure,” Rodriguez said. “If you have a bad year, there’s going to be more pressure the following year, without question.

“The truth is, last year was awful. We need to prove ourselves all over again. … But that’s OK. If there’s a person in our program that doesn’t have a chip on their shoulder and doesn’t feel the need to prove themselves, then they don’t belong in this program.

“We’ve been working our tails off to prove ourselves. Game time will tell. I feel pretty confident we’ll be able to do that this fall.”