Aug. 15, 2011
Five to Watch: Matthews | Garnham
In a new series titled: Five to Watch, VUCommodores.com takes a closer look at players to keep an eye on during preseason practice. The third installment of the series features sophomore running back Wesley Tate.
After being slowed by injuries his first two years on campus, Tate impressed the coaching staff with his play in the spring, and figures to play a large role in the backfield this season. Eric Single recently spoke with Tate to discuss the upcoming season.
You’ve dealt with more than your share of injuries in your two years on campus. How do you feel right now?
I feel really good. They were just little knick-knack injuries, and I feel like this is the best I’ve felt in a long time, so I’m glad.
Did you come into the spring game knowing you had an opportunity to prove yourself given the other injuries at running back?
Definitely. I felt like that coming into the first spring practice. And I feel like I’ve shown the coaches a lot through the offseason and spring practice, so it wasn’t really a surprise to me. I’m just trying to go out there and play.
With two other experienced backs in Zac Stacy and Warren Norman in the backfield, what do you see your role as in the offense?
Honestly, I don’t know. Hopefully I can be working toward being an every-down back, which I think I can be. And also, even though we have Zac and Warren, hopefully they’ll throw all three of us out there and have us in the passing game and things like that. I think the coaches are going to utilize us as far as the passing game and trying to get all of us on the field as much as possible.
Talk about your relationship with Zac and Warren – the three of you came to Vanderbilt in the same recruiting class. How much do you guys talk about the opportunity you have with everyone healthy?
We’re definitely excited. There are no hard feelings; it’s all competition as far as playing time is concerned. I think we all have a great relationship, and we know what each other can do. I think this coaching staff definitely sees that our running backs are a strength of the team, so they’re definitely going to take advantage of that as far as the passing game and trying to get us on the field as much as possible.
Was it extra motivation for you watching the two of them have the success that they did in their first years on campus as you worked to get healthy?
Definitely. I had always been driven to be successful and things like that before I got redshirted, that’s never stopped. But to see those guys going in and doing the things they did, hopefully we can all be successful at the same time and win some football games.
For people that haven’t seen you play for an extended amount of time, what part of your running style is the most important to you?
I think being able to get the tough yards, but at the same time, when it’s open I can take it long – 30, 40, 50, 60, however many yards. I think that’s something that fans should look forward to, getting the tough yards but also breaking a long run off and making moves in the open field.
What do you think the fans are going to like most about this new offense?
I think we’ll be a lot more exciting for the fans in terms of the kind of plays we run and things like that. I think they’ll be excited about anything other than what we’ve done in the past, obviously. But I think big plays are going to be a big thing in our offense. We’re not going to let up on anybody, and I think that’s something the fans should look forward to.
