Mr. October is back.Â
Former Arizona star quarterback Khalil Tate will be the Wildcats' honorary captain on Saturday when the UA squares off with the Colorado Buffaloes for homecoming.Â
Tate will join former UA greats in Chris McAlister, Max Zendejas and Robert Golden as Arizona's honorary captains this season.Â
Fittingly, Tate is the honorary captain for Arizona's game against Colorado, the opponent Tate had success against in three seasons as the starting quarterback at Arizona.
Khalil Tate rushed for 327 yards, an FBS record for a quarterback, and accounted for five touchdowns to help Arizona hold off Colorado 45-42 in 2017.
Tate emerged as Arizona's starter in 2017, when he subbed in for the injured Brandon Dawkins and rushed for 327 yards, a single-game record for an FBS record, against Colorado in Boulder. Tate earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors four straight weeks in October of 2017, becoming the first player in conference history to accomplish that feat.Â
In three seasons, Tate completed 60 of 76 (78.9%) passes for 908 yards, rushed for 365 yards and scored 13 touchdowns against Colorado.Â
After former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired following Tate's breakout year, the UA quarterback was never able to replicate similar success in offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone's system under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The Wildcats failed to make a bowl game in Tate's last two seasons under Sumlin.
Tate ended his UA career with 6,318 passing yards, 2,285 rushing yards, 75 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. Tate ranks fifth all-time in passing yards.Â
Following his mercurial career at Arizona, Tate signed to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad as a wide receiver, but was waived. He briefly signed with CFL teams, the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts, but was released.Â
Tate and former Arizona wide receiver Devaughn Cooper have been actors in Season 6 of CW show "All American."Â
Arizona faces Colorado at Arizona Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Fox.Â
