ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen isn't one to gush over his players, let alone one who hasn't even cracked the starting lineup yet.

Consider sophomore safety Kenny Tate the exception.

	Randy Litzinger/Icon SMI
	Maryland's Kenny Tate is an impact player.

"He does it all," Friedgen said. "He's like a one-man band. One minute you see him intercept a play, the next minute he's rushing the passer. The next, he's playing linebacker. ... I told him the other day after practice, 'I don't usually say this to a player, but when we recruited you, you told me you wanted to be an impact player.' I said, 'Right now, you're an impact player. If you keep playing the way you're playing, you're a force.'"

Tate, a former ESPNU 150 recruit, is one of the biggest in-state recruiting signees the Terps have had in recent years, and he was lured to College Park despite giving serious consideration to Penn State, Ohio State, Florida and Michigan. Tate's one of those players who appear poised to live up to the hype. Funny thing is, he was recruited as a receiver, and his best days ahead of him seem to be at safety.

Last season, Friedgen asked Tate to move because he was concerned about the safety position. He told Tate he'd give him the option to go back. Tate said he'd think about it, but never came to see Friedgen.

"I think I've found a home at safety," Tate said. "I talked to (DeMatha coach) Bill McGregor, I talked to my parents, and I thought it was a better fit for me. We have some great wide receivers right now. I could go out and compete and I know I'd try to have success, but I was just like, safety is looking good right now, and I was a little more confident since I played safety a lot more than I have receiver."

Tate had only played receiver three years in high school, and that was only because he had a growth spurt. Friedgen, though, noticed Tate had garnered honors as a safety, and that's what he hoped he'd develop into. He was one of only four true freshmen to see playing time last year, and played in all 13 games as a reserve safety and on special teams. At the end of last season, Tate showed his potential when he made his first career interception in the Humanitarian Bowl, and that gave him confidence it was the right position.

Depending on the scheme, Tate could be anywhere. He could blitz, play coverage, play the deep pass, wherever they need him to. But he loves to pass rush -- loves it. And he's going against 6-foot-7, 310-pound left tackle Bruce Campbell every day.

"I think I could make some plays for us this year," Tate said. "I had a talk with the d-line, and they think they can get more sacks then me. That's one think I like getting. Pass rushing, it's something fun to me, and it just comes natural. Some of the moves, I go against Bruce, I think if I can get past him, I can get past pretty much anybody. I work against him every day."

Tate is surprisingly quick for his size -- 6-foot-4, 225 -- and has amazed Friedgen with his strength.

"Genetically, he walks by the weight room and he gets stronger," Friedgen said. "He's turned into a man."

Friedgen said he fully expected Tate to want to return to receiver this fall.

"I'm glad he didn't," Friedgen said. "He's a force right now. We're saying all this and we haven't played a game yet. But I tell you what, if he does in the games what he's doing now, he'll get a lot of honors."

Tate knows the praise from Friedgen is rare.

"I've got to keep this up," he said.

If he does, the rest of the ACC will know it.