Talented athlete and speedster to play football and compete in track at Centre
Tate Johnson has a really good frame at 6′ and 180-pounds. He has plus length and good speed which he helped develop on the varsity track team at “Freddy D.” Johnson has “done it” in the classroom too, a requirement for any athlete looking to continue his football career while soaking up Kentucky’s premier academic curriculum.
Fletcher Long, Chief of the Scouting Division, KPGFootball
Centre seemed to focus much of its attention in this recruiting cycle to prospects hailing from practically anywhere but Kentucky. That doesn’t mean the Colonels struck out in Kentucky; far from it.
The Colonels inked one of the best pure football players and athletes when it secured the signature of Harris Phelps from Paintsville. The Colonels inked three hulking interior types, up front, in Joe Gaudy (Marshall County), Adam Bowman (Highlands) and Bracken Castle (Whitley County).
Maybe one of the finer additions to the roster, in or out of the friendly confines of Kentucky’s borders, was the pledge of Lexington, Kentucky’s Tate Johnson. Johnson is fresh off of assisting Frederick Douglass High School (5A) in winning its first football state title.
Johnson is a catch, pardon the pun (He played WR at FDHS). Johnson is 6′ and weighs 180-pounds. He was third on the Broncos team in receptions, yards receiving, and TD’s receiving. Johnson was among the leaders in points scored.
Johnson bench presses 225-pounds, squats 335, and power cleans 245. Johnson runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6-seconds, has a 31-inch vertical, and broad jumps 9’5.”
We give you these numbers to give prospects a rough idea about what kind of athlete and specimen it requires to play football on Saturdays. Not just anyone gets to do it.
Looking at this kid’s future college deployment, it is hard to say for sure how he will be used. We believe he may get first crack at WR, as Centre has an immediate need there owing to graduation. However, this young man would make a fine corner or safety and could even slid up to the second level with the addition of a few good pounds.
Either way, this is an impressive “get” for the Colonel football program. Tate Johnson is a perfect example of the type athlete you have to regularly attract to play championship level football at the NCAA, D-3 level. He is also the perfect example of the type athlete one has to be to get that opportunity.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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