TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State’s issue at receiver looked to be solved at the end of the spring game. Auden Tate, with his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, bullied his teammates en route to six catches, 100 yards and a touchdown.
But the regular season provided no encore. Through the first nine games, the sophomore collected only 12 catches and 209 yards. He didn’t eclipse 40 yards in a game until November.
“Coaches can harp and say it as many times as they want, but [maturing] has to be your decision,” Tate said when asked about the promising spring, but slow fall start.