#24 Wesley Tate Season 2011-12

Honors
• 2013 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2011 SEC Academic Honor Roll

2013
Tate finished regular season as Commodores[apos] No. 2 rusher, gaining 355 yards on 90 carries… Played through injuries to see action in all 13 games, and earned starts at RB against Ole Miss, Austin Peay, UMass, UAB and Wake Forest… Had two rushing TDs and 39 yards on 17 carries against Ole Miss… Arguably best game came at South Carolina, rushing for 71 yards on 10 carries… Followed the SC game with efforts of 64 and 53 yards against UMass and UAB, respectively… Had six receptions for 57 yards against Missouri… Finished the season with strong rushing performances in wins at Tennessee and vs. Wake Forest…. Earned the start in the backfield at RB running for 17 yards on five carries against Austin Peay… Started at RB rushing for 39 yards on a team-high 17 carries with two TDs against Ole Miss in season opener.

2012
Tate saw action in all 13 games as an effective power rushing option to Zac Stacy and Brian Kimbrow… After moving to running back during the spring, Tate blossomed when given a greater workload during the season… Concluded the regular season third on the team with 376 rushing yards… His seight rushing TDs ranks second to Stacy[apos]s 10-TD total… Also caught 12 passes for 116 yards and a score… Ran for a career-high 81 yards on 15 rushes and a touchdown in a win versus Massachusetts… Had a rushing score and receiving TD in the regular season finale at Wake Forest… Contributed a seven-yard rushing TD in Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl victory over N.C. State… Played his best football during Vanderbilt[apos]s seven-game win streak to end season… Had at least 40 rushing yards in five of the last eight games.

2011
Moved to receiving corps prior to season… Earned minutes in all 13 games, including three starting assignments at slot receiver… Concluded year ranked fourth on the team with 22 receptions and 187 receiving yards… Also had three rushes for 26 yards, including one resulting in a 23-yard TD vs. Elon… Season high in receiving yards (46) came at Alabama… Topped receivers with four catches in win over Ole Miss… Also contributed three receptions against Army and Arkansas… Posted 12-yard reception in AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

2010
Physical running back showed potential as depth at running backs diminished during season because of injuries… As redshirt freshman, played in 11 of 12 games at RB… Concluded season with 140 rushing yards on just 40 carries and 25 receiving yards… Had 30 rushing yards on 10 carries, several resulting in Commodore first downs, to aid victory at Ole Miss… Established career highs in rushing yards (41) and longest rush (22) against Florida… Also had 38 yards… Caught three passes, one good for 12 yards, against Tennessee.

2009
Tailback spent first year on campus as a redshirt… Travelled with team on road trips, but did not see game action… In preseason drills, formed formidable first-year tailback trio with co-freshmen Warren Norman and Zac Stacy… Impressed coaches and teammates with athleticism on the practice field… Named team[apos]s offensive scout of the week after Florida game.

High School
Three-year starter at running back for private school just north of Nashville… As senior, rushed for 1,301 yards on 225 carries and scored 18 TDs… Nominated for state[apos]s Mr. Football postseason award… Named to Nashville Tennessean[apos]s ‘Dream Team’ and Division II All-State by sportswriters… Averaged 6.1 yards while producing 3,045 career rushing yards and 42 TDs… Three-time All-County selection and Area[apos]s 2008 Male Athlete of the Year… State 100-meter champion in track, with personal best of 10.8; two-time state runner-up in 200 meters… Captain on hoops squad… Member of school chorus.

Personal
Wesley Trumaine Tate… Son of Yolanda Tate and Golden H. Tate II… Born Dec. 3, 1990… Has an older brother, Golden III, and twin younger sisters, Beanna and Deanna… Older brother, a former standout WR at Notre Dame, plays for the Seattle Seahawks… Dad played football at Tennessee State… Plays piano… Enjoys Guitar Hero… Working toward a degree in Human and Organizational Development.