Rehab going well for UNC's Tate

CHAPEL HILL -- Three months ago, North Carolina wide receiver Brandon Tate was impressing NFL scouts with how fast he could sprint, cut and evade defenders on a football field.

These days, the senior is trying to impress them with how long he can run on a treadmill.

Tate's college career ended prematurely almost 10 weeks ago, after he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. When the Tar Heels play West Virginia in Saturday's Meineke Bowl (1 p.m., ESPN), the injury will keep him on the sideline, cheering on his teammates. The NCAA's all-time leader in combined kickoff- and punt-return yards, Tate is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and is as determined as ever to play in the NFL.

"It's sore sometimes," Tate said of his knee, "and certain moves I can't really do yet because I'm not really ready. But I will be."

It was that determination that had the athlete in the running for ACC player of the year when he hurt the knee on a punt return against Notre Dame on Oct. 11. And as he continues to heal, pro scouts will be looking for the return of the speed and elusiveness that first caught their attention.

At worst before the injury, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder probably would have been selected near the top of the second round of April's NFL draft. Now, his draft stock is unknown, and it may depend on how he performs at the draft combine in Indianapolis in February.

Teams are cautious with guaranteed money in the higher rounds but typically are more willing to take a chance in the fourth or fifth round. Lesser players would be knocked to free-agent status by an injury such as Tate's.

However, if Tate can convince scouts he has regained his lateral movement and if he shows flashes of the athleticism that set him apart, then he could shore up his draft prospects.

Right now, Tate is in the midst of restrengthening the muscles around the knee and said he expects to be back to 100 percent by March or April. He will graduate in May.

In the meantime, UNC coach Butch Davis said, Tate is trying to hit certain timetables in his rehab so NFL teams can judge his recuperation.

"It's very critical to him how teams will perceive his draft eligibility as to whether 2009 is a viable, reasonable expectation that he can legitimately contribute to a team -- maybe not as early as minicamps or training camp, but could he possibly start the season on PUP [physically unable to perform list] and maybe play in the season?" said Davis, who previously coached in the NFL. "Or will he maybe be healthy enough to actually start the season on the regular roster? He's got a huge investment to make sure when he comes back second semester, he's working really, really hard."

Davis told Tate early on that two of the best receivers he has ever coached -- Michael Irvin at the University of Miami and with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and Reggie Wayne at Miami -- suffered the same injury. Both went on to star in the NFL.

Tate is determined to do the same thing -- which is why the receiver who used to speed past defenders is so thrilled just to be jogging on a treadmill again.

Davis's reaction when he first saw Tate do it:

"Wow, that's cool."

Cool enough to give Tate hope he's on the right path, he said.

"I'm like a baby, starting all over again," Tate said. "Walking and running, one step at a time."