Donavan Tate, a former dual-sport star at Cartersville High School, will walk on at the University of Arizona as a quarterback. Because the 26-year-old was the No. 3 draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2009, his contract will pay for his education.
When he was a senior at Cartersville, he was a high-profile recruit and considered one of the nation’s top dual-sport athletes. He was pledged to play both football and baseball at the University of North Carolina before signing with the Padres out of high school.
In an ESPN profile on him from 2009, writer Lucas O’Neill called him “Downright Tom Brady-esque.”
Tate, the son of former UGA running back Lars Tate, was an All-American in football and baseball at Cartersville, and was an Atlanta Journal-Constitution first-team All-State selection as a defensive back in 2008.
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