Davanzo Tate has mostly flown under the radar, but opposing teams and pro scouts clearly identified his ability to disrupt any passing game.

With outstanding acceleration and timing to break up passes, he allowed just one touchdown reception in 30 starting assignments since joining the Zips as a transfer from West Virginia.

At Austintown Fitch High School, Tate was not only rated among the nation's top 60 cornerbacks by Rivals.com, but he also excelled as a running back. He earned All-State and All-Northeast Ohio recognition, adding All-Steel Valley Conference honors. He was chosen to play in the North-South and Big 33 All-Star games.

Tate gained more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, with 10 touchdowns and also picked off three passes as a senior. He excelled in the classroom, earning academic honors. A member of the National Honor Society, he also competed in track, qualifying for the state finals as a sprinter.

Tate enrolled at West Virginia in 2003, spending the season competing on the scout team, where he was called by the coaching staff the squad's best defensive player. He made the Dean's List and was a member of the WVU Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll. After the season, he decided to transfer to Akron, sitting out the 2004 season under NCAA transfer rules.

In his first season on the field at Akron, Tate started nine of 13 games at boundary cornerback. He posted 41 tackles (29 solo), as he caused two fumbles and recovered another. He also broke up six passes. He started nine games while playing in 12 contests as a junior. That year, he was in on 54 tackles (32 solo), fifth on the team. He added 4 ½ stops for losses with a pair of fumble recoveries. He also deflected thirteen passes and blocked a kick.

Tate earned All-American honorable mention, All-Mid American first-team and Super sleeper Team honors in 2007. He tied fellow cornerback Reggie Corner for the league title and ranked sixth nationally with 19 passes defended (two interceptions, 17 pass breakups). He finished fourth on the squad with a career-high 73 tackles (53 solo) that included four stops behind the line of scrimmage. He recovered a partially blocked punt and also caused one fumble.

Positives: Has a compact frame with good muscle definition … Student of the game, with great work habits … Stays under control in his backpedal, showing quick feet and an explosive burst to break on the ball … Shows smoothness and balance as he stays low in his backpedal … Solid in his plant and drive to the ball, taking no false steps … Has the speed to match any receiver stride-for-stride on deep routes … Gets a sharp jump on the ball in zone coverage … Very effective in the short area, working through the receiver to bat the ball away … Can run with receivers deep, showing excellent acceleration in the open field … Has the recovery burst and deep speed to stay tight on receivers … Takes proper angles to the ball and reacts quickly working in the zone, dropping off fluidly in coverage … Uses his leaping ability to compete for the ball at its high point, but lacks natural hands to make the interception … Has that nasty streak needed to excel in press coverage, using his hands with force to redirect … Plays with aggression and confidence in man coverage, keeping his feet while showing good body control to shadow the receiver throughout the route … Gets into zone drops quickly and has suddenness breaking on the ball … Plays with awareness, keeping track of the ball in flight … Catches the ball cleanly and with arms extended … Has the recovery ability when the receiver gets by him … Fluid and graceful moving in space … Quick to react and read the plays in run force, showing a good hands to ward off the low blocks while maintaining balance … Not afraid of contact and stays low in his pads to wrap and secure in his tackles … Determined run stuffer who quickly steps up to fill the lane … Uses his hands well to discard blocks in the trenches … Likes to charge after the ballcarrier to drag him down near the line … Has the temperament and hand strength to generate a strong jam in attempts to reroute the receiver.

Negatives: While he reacts to plays in the zone, he tends to lose focus, showing inconsistency in his timing going up for the ball (despite his leaping ability, he does not always compete for the pigskin at its high point) … Won't shy away from contact, but struggles to bring down running backs when meeting them head on (lacks lower-body power to stay on his feet) … Lacks natural hands for the interception, resulting in more pass breakups than INTs … Lack of size poses problems vs. larger receivers, but he is an aggressive face-up tackler and will not back down from one-on-one battles … Lack of bulk causes him to get be overwhelmed by offensive linemen when they get their hands on him when trying to fill rush lanes.

Compares To: BRYANT McFADDEN-Pittsburgh … Tate needs technique refinement attacking the ball in flight, but he compensates for a lack of natural hands with the leaping ability and body position to ride up on receivers to break up the pass. He could use more bulk, but he's an aggressive tackler with outstanding closing speed. If played in the sub package as a rookie, a team will get immediate value back for a late-round draft pick.

2007: Suffered a shoulder strain in the Ohio State clash.

Campus: 4.26 in the 40-yard dash … 1.43 10-yard dash … 2.46 20-yard dash … 4.18 20-yard shuttle … 6.83 three-cone drill … 40-inch vertical jump … 11'0" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times.

Attended Austintown (Oh.) Fitch High School, playing football for head coach Carl Pelini … Rated among the nation's top 60 cornerbacks by Rivals.com … Also excelled as a running back … Earned All-State and All-Northeast Ohio recognition, adding All-Steel Valley Conference honors … Chosen to play in the North-South and Big 33 All-Star games … Gained more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, with 10 touchdowns and also picked off three passes as a senior … Excelled in the classroom, earning academic honors … Member of the National Honor Society, he also competed in track, qualifying for the state finals as a sprinter.

Graduated from the University of Akron in the Spring of 2007 with a B.A. in Business Administration Communication … Earned academic honors at both Akron and West Virginia University … Son of Rita and Davanzo Tate, Sr., and Dedra Harris … Born 1/15/84 … Resides in Youngstown, Ohio.