Tate Smith

Tate Smith

Player Profile

Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Odessa, Texas
Last College:
Cisco JC
Height / Weight:
6-1 / 198
Position:
Quarterback
Experience:
1L

NEW MEXICO: Promising second-year quarterback who showed flashes of starting potential in limited action last year...is coming off an outstanding spring practice season and will be one of the top challengers for the starting job during training camp...multi-dimensional player who has an excellent arm and is very effective as a runner...has great confidence as a passer and is not afraid to put the ball into tight spots...has a natural pocket presence and will stay poised under pressure...did a nice job of directing the offense during the spring...capped the season with a game-high 157 (9-19) yards passing, including a 38-yard TD and no INTs, in the Cherry-Silver Game...also 5 carries for 33 yards with a long of 16 and was only sacked once in the game...played briefly at Cisco (Texas) Junior College in the fall of 2007 before walking on at UNM in the spring of 2008...cousin of the Lobos' record-setting QB and former Permian standout Stoney Case (1994 WAC Player of the Year)...another cousin, Stormy Case, played at Texas A&M.

2008 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in 4 games off the bench (weeks 6-9), sharing time with redshirt freshman starter Brad Gruner...7-21 passing for 82 yards (2 INTs)...25 rushing yards (18 att.) with a long of 13...most significant playing time came in a surprising appearance at No. 8 BYU...rotated in for 17 plays, primarily on 3rd down or obvious passing downs, and hit 5-10 passes for 60 yards with 1 INT...first pass attempt of the game was good for a 12-yard completion on 3rd-and-8...twice converted 3rd-and-long plays through the air...should've had a another conversion when he hit WR Bryant Williams for an apparent 13-yard TD on a 3rd-and-11 screen pass...a late block in the back call (which replays showed to be incorrect), however, wiped the score off the board...led the Lobos' 80 yards in 6 plays, down to the BYU 19, in the waning minutes before taking 3 sacks.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2007 graduate of Odessa Permian High School...all-district, all-region, all-area honoree and team's Offensive MVP as senior when he led the storied Panther program to their first playoff appearance since 1998...left as Permian's career passing leader with 3,214 yards, including 2,375 yards as a senior...played for head coach Darren Allman.

PERSONAL: Born June 25, 1989, in Odessa, Texas...age is 20...son of Kelton and Janis...has a brother Skyler (17)...major is undeclared.

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