NFL 2010 Draft Profile: Ben Tate (Auburn) Running Back

Big things were expected of Ben Tate in 2008 given that the Auburn Tailback made many a pre-season All-SEC list, but the season took a turn for the worse when the Tigers got off to a disappointed start, in a year which they would rank 104^th in the nation in Offense. The frustrated Tate virtually disappeared over the first half of the season when the team was running a spread offense; though once Auburn went back to a more traditionally pro-style offense (after the firing of Tony Franklin), Tate's carries and yards began to pile up again.

This season, Tate will be running behind a bulked up line, as Auburn will attempt to re-emphasize the running game, and Tiger coaches are penciling in the Senior as a sure thing to get to the 1,000 yard plateau. Tate himself is excited with the prospect of the new offense saying, "We run the power plays, and everything is pretty much straight downhill. You can cut both ways. It allows you to get your shoulders square where you can make a cut to the right or a make a cutback across the field. (blog.al.com)"

Though expectations for Tate are high this year, it should come as no surprise to those who have followed the development of this 2010 NFL Draft prospect. A prep star in high school where he set state of Maryland rushing records (with 2,886 yards in a season, and 5,920 yards during his career), Tate has been on the national season for some time now.

At Auburn, he would follow his sensational prep career by playing in 9 games as a Freshman, gaining 392 yards rushing, and receiving The Sporting News Freshman All-America Honorable Mention. He would improve upon that with a spectacular Sophomore season that saw him gain a team leading 903 yards on 202 carries; his best effort coming against Florida, where the star tailback showed his strength and endurance in Auburn's game winning final drive, when he carried the ball in 7 out of the last 10 plays to set up the winning field goal.

Fast forward to this season, where the Senior is once again making noise in Spring practice, getting the attention of running back coach Curtis Luper, who has singled out Tate as one of the best performer since the season's first week of practice; though how he does from here on out will determine where he will be taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. Right now the 5-11, 215 lbs Tate has the size, speed (4.45 in the 40), and knowledge of the game to make him one of the top 10 running backs available in next years Draft. An impressive Senior season might make him go as high as the 2^nd or 3^rd round.

Sources:

www.auburnfansite.com

www.rotoworld.com

"Senior RB Ben Tate Ready to Run," www.blog.al.com