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Auden Tate's tall task: Breaking out among FSU's receivers

 
Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Auden Tate (18) during Florida State Seminoles football practice at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. (Will Vragovic, Times)
Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Auden Tate (18) during Florida State Seminoles football practice at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. (Will Vragovic, Times)
Published Aug. 25, 2016

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State receiver Auden Tate began making the unfair comparison himself when he signed with the Seminoles out of Wharton High in 2015.

He wants to be FSU's next Kelvin Benjamin.

The 6-foot-4 Tate has a similar frame as the hero from the Seminoles' 2013 title-game victory. The talent, receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey said, is comparable.

"He's got the potential," said Dawsey, co-offensive coordinator and a former standout receiver for FSU (1987-90) . "The potential is there."

And so is the opportunity.

If opposing defenses focus on stopping star running back Dalvin Cook, that should open up the passing game. That means that if No. 4 FSU is going to challenge for the ACC championship — and a trip to Tampa for the Jan. 9 national title game — it likely will need big-time performances from some of the big-bodied receivers who accomplished little last season.

The 'Noles have several names that meet that criteria, including former five-star recruit Ermon Lane and East Lake High alumnus George Campbell. But Tate has the size (225 pounds), talent (a former top-300 recruit) and tape (two touchdowns in the spring game) to believe he can live up to his own lofty comparison.

"I think it's a big year for me," Tate said. "Putting my name out there, show what I can do."

Before becoming the Panthers' first-round pick, the 6-foot-5 Benjamin broke out with 1,011 yards and 15 touchdown catches in FSU's 2013 title run, including the winner at the Rose Bowl. The Seminoles haven't found such a reliable, large target since then.

During the 2013 season, receivers taller than 6 feet 1 accounted for 107 catches and 22 of FSU's 42 touchdown receptions. Last year? Receivers that size had 42 catches and four scores.

Tate didn't capitalize on his chances to add to those totals. As a true freshman, he played in six games without a catch. But FSU named Tate its most improved offensive player in the spring after he added 20 pounds to his frame and began emerging as a viable weapon for redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois.

"Physically I'm better but definitely way more mentally," Tate said. "Running routes, reading coverages — all that stuff."

And it all could show in the red zone, where the Seminoles' lack of size has been apparent since Benjamin left for the NFL. With no consistent, big target against Georgia Tech last fall, quarterback Everett Golson forced a throw in the middle of the end zone to 6-foot-1 Travis Rudolph. That interception with eight minutes left proved costly in the devastating 22-16 loss.

The problem kept coming up all season. After ranking third in red-zone touchdowns in 2013, FSU scored touchdowns on only 26 of its 46 trips there last year. That percentage (56.5) ranked No. 89 in the country and was its worst of the Jimbo Fisher era. Receiver Jesus Wilson expects Tate to help fix that issue.

"He can be a very threatening receiver in the red zone, as you saw in the spring game," Wilson said.

The spring game is the only college production Tate can show, but it was impressive. His 100-yard day featured two touchdown catches, including an 11-yard soar in the closing seconds.

Less than five months later, he will be back in Orlando's Camping World Stadium for the season opener, with higher expectations, and more opportunities. FSU's opponent, No. 11 Ole Miss, has only two defensive backs on its roster who are taller than 6 feet.

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"He's got the kind of skills to go up and get the ball," Dawsey said. "We want to just put him in that position to try to use his strengths."

And, perhaps, address one of FSU's biggest weaknesses.