Khalil Tate ranked No. 7 college player to watch by NFL.com

More hype for the UA quarterback

There’s no escaping the hype this season for Khalil Tate.

The Arizona Wildcats quarterback has been deemed a Heisman Trophy candidate, the top quarterback in the Pac-12, and now the No. 7 player to watch in college football by NFL.com.

Here is what Chad Reuter wrote:

Despite not playing much in the first month of the 2017 season, Tate made a name for himself with his ridiculous running ability (1,411 yards, including 327 against Colorado). In the team’s bowl game against Purdue, Tate threw for five touchdowns -- which might give him the confidence to move the ball through the air more consistently in 2018. If that happens, watch out!

The only other Pac-12 player that was higher on Reuter’s list was Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.

It is pretty incredible how much notoriety Tate has gained, despite only starting in eight games last season, but it just goes to show how electrifying he was.

The soon-to-be junior completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,591 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interception which pales in comparison to his production on the ground. Tate rushed for 1,411 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 153 carries (9.2 ypc), displaying a jaw-dropping combination of speed, strength, and elusiveness.

Tate singlehandedly put Arizona in the national spotlight, and has become UA’s most recognizable player since..... Scooby Wright III? Nick Foles? Rob Gronkowski?

Sporting News recently ranked Tate as the No. 4 quarterback in college football:

These are the top 10 QBs in #CFB according to @sportingnews pic.twitter.com/nr5mdJIVnb

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 3, 2018

With all this hype comes increased pressure, and it will be interesting to see if Tate can live up to it under Kevin Sumlin in 2018.

Here is Reuter’s entire Top 10:

1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
3. Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
4. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
5. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
6. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
7. Khalil Tate, QB, Arizona
8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
9. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
10. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

Arizona will face Oliver on the road in Week 2. He had 11 tackles (1.5 for loss) and a forced fumble against UA last season.

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