Khalil Tate made his move Friday night.
The sophomore quarterback threw a 65-yard touchdown pass and led four scoring drives during the Arizona Wildcats’ final scrimmage of spring at Arizona Stadium.
At the very least, Tate closed the gap between himself and incumbent Brandon Dawkins. The competition will remain open when the Wildcats begin training camp in August.
“He showed some good things,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said of Tate. “He’s a talented guy. He’s still got a ways to go. But he’s got a chance to compete. I think tonight he showed … that he’s got some skills. I’m excited to work with him.”
One week earlier, Rodriguez indicated that Dawkins was in the lead, saying: “Khalil’s gotta beat him out.” That’s probably still the case, despite Tate outplaying Dawkins on Friday in the Blue-White scrimmage.
Rodriguez said Tate’s performance was perhaps his best of the spring. Tate didn’t necessarily see it that way.
“I just tried to get out there and get better,” he said. “Run the right plays, make the right reads and hopefully get a great outcome.”
Tate led the White team to a 24-6 victory — earning the squad a buffet dinner. The losers got “a loaf of bread and some Spam,” Rodriguez said.
Tate completed his first five passes. The first was a perfectly thrown deep shot down the right sideline to the outside shoulder of Shun Brown, who got just enough separation from Dane Cruikshank to catch the ball and race into the end zone.
“It’s a trust thing,” Brown said. “He put it in the air, and I made a play for him.
“It was a great pass. He put it on the money.”
Tate — who was pressed into backup duty last season as a true freshman because of injuries to Dawkins and Anu Solomon — said he’s made the most progress in two areas: being more patient and knowing the playbook.
Brown said Tate knew the plays last year. But this year, Brown said, Tate knows them “in and out.”
As he heads into the offseason, Tate isn’t thinking about overtaking Dawkins.
“I go out there every day and I practice,” Tate said. “And whatever happens, happens.”
New target
The White team’s second touchdown drive of the first half featured two completions from Tate to … punter Matt Aragon.
Make that punter/receiver Matt Aragon.
The 6-foot-5-inch redshirt sophomore from Cienega High School went to Rodriguez about two weeks ago with a request.
“Coach, I’m working too hard just to punt a couple times at the beginning of practice,” Aragon told Rodriguez. “I still want to compete at that, but I want to play some wideout.”
Rodriguez agreed that it was a good idea. Aragon’s two receptions gained 55 yards.
“I think he’s got a chance,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a big, physical guy. He’s a good athlete. He’s certainly got the size you want. I’m glad he made that wise choice. These guys are smarter than me anyway.”
Extra points
- The Wildcats played four 12-minute quarters with a running clock. Rodriguez stood on the field behind the offense and called most of the plays.
- The scrimmage featured live tackling. Only Dawkins and Tate were off-limits. “The intensity’s only good when you can go live,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve had some live periods. But if you’re going to put something at stake like a Spam meal compared to a full buffet, you’ve got to go live.”
- Freshman tailback Nathan Tilford had two short touchdown runs for the White team. Josh Pollack made a pair of field goals.
- Despite having to integrate many unproven newcomers, Rodriguez is confident about the 2017 Wildcats. “There’s no question we’ll be better,” he said.
- Receiver Cam Denson did not participate and continued to walk with a boot on his right foot. Denson has “a stress thing with his foot,” Rodriguez said. “Hopefully in about two or three weeks he’ll be back to full go.”
- Other players who did not participate because of injuries included offensive tackle Gerhard de Beer, safety Jarrius Wallace, defensive end Jalen Cochran and tight end Brion Anduze. They spent most of the scrimmage riding stationary bikes.
- Redshirt-freshman tackle Keenan Walker limped off the field toward the end of the scrimmage. He seemed to be favoring his left leg.
- Rodriguez liked the scrimmage format, in part because it made for a more enticing attraction for recruits. Rodriguez said Arizona hosted about 50 recruits, including about 12 the UA has offered and another 12 underclassmen.
