Pro path

Calgary signed Tate as a free agent on June 3, 2009. In 2007, he was signed by the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent. After his release, he joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was placed on the practice roster. He also spent the 2008 season with the Roughriders but did not see any action.

2011

Tate missed the first five games of the season due to injury. He returned in Week 6 and dressed for the final 13 regular-season games as well as the West Division semifinal. Tate assumed the starting job for the final three games of the regular season as well as the West Division semifinal. During the regular campaign, Tate threw for 1,346 yards, completing 101 of 158 attempts for a 63.9-per cent success rate, and eight touchdowns. He won all three of his regular-season starts including an Oct. 30 contest against the Montreal Alouettes in which he threw for a career-high 333 yards. On Oct. 14, he came into the game in a relief role and still managed to accumulate 263 passing yards and two touchdowns in two quarters plus one series of action. Tate had three games with multiple touchdown passes. Tate added 44 carries for 149 yards and four rushing scores.

2010

In his second season with the Stampeders, Tate dressed for all 18 regular-season games as well as the West final. Tate performed well as starter Henry Burris’ backup, completing 44 of 62 passes for a 71 per cent completion rate with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Tate was the first Stampeders player since 2004 to attempt more than 50 passes with no interceptions. He was often used in short-yardage situations, recording 189 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries. His 40-yard gain against Saskatchewan on July 24 was the longest run by a Calgary quarterback since 2001. Tate saw the most action in the regular-season finale against Winnipeg and completed 15 of 24 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, to go with 24 rushing yards on four carries. He threw for a touchdown in four straight contests from Aug. 7-Sept. 6 and recorded both a passing major and a rushing score in games on Aug. 15 and Aug. 27.

2009

Tate was in uniform for all 18 regular-season and two playoff games. He was proficient in limited action, completing nine of 11 passes for 78 yards in two games. Tate saw the first game action of his professional career with his CFL debut on Oct. 12 at Montreal and completed five of six throws for 36 yards. He also played on Nov. 7 at Saskatchewan and made four completions on five attempts for 42 yards and also added a 20-yard run.

2008

Tate spent the season on the Saskatchewan Roughriders practice roster.

Career highlights

• Completed his first touchdown pass on August 7, 2010, against BC
• Scored his first rushing touchdown on August 15, 2010, against Edmonton
• Recorded his first 300-yard passing game on Oct. 30, 2011, at Montreal
• Had three multiple-touchdown games in 2011 despite only making three starts that season
• Recorded a 40-yard run on July 24, 2010, against Saskatchewan
• Started his first career CFL game on Oct. 21 against Saskatchewan
• Started his first playoff game on Nov. 13 against Edmonton
• Did not throw a single interception for his first 155 pass attempts as a pro
• Threw for a pair of touchdowns against Winnipeg on Nov. 5, 2010
• Made his first appearance on an active CFL roster on July 1, 2009
• Made his CFL debut on Oct. 12, 2009, at Montreal
• His first CFL pass was a 22-yard completion to Jeremaine Copeland on Oct. 12, 2009

College

Tate was a three-year starter at Iowa and spent a total of four seasons with the Hawkeyes. He ranks second in school history in career touchdown passes (61), completions (665), attempts (1,090) and passing yards (8,292) and third in wins by a starting quarterback (21). In his senior season, Tate ranked second in the Big Ten with 238.5 passing yards per game. At the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2005, Tate was involved in one of the most famous plays in Hawkeyes football history. On the final play of the game, he hit Warren Holloway for a 56-yard touchdown as Iowa upended Louisiana State 30-25.

Notable

Tate was a four-time first-team conference all-star at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Tex. He established Texas high school records for pass completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns. Tate originally committed to Texas A&M but opted for Iowa after the Aggies changed head coaches.