SDSU’s Tate Has Surgery on Knee

Will Tate, the San Diego State wide receiver from Southwest High, underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair damage in his right knee Monday and is expected to begin rehabilitation today, said SDSU trainer Brian Barry.

Tate, a junior who was vying for the H-Back position, collapsed during the team’s first practice Saturday morning, apparently reinjured the knee.

Barry said Dr. Robert Straumfjord repaired a torn meniscus, and Tate is scheduled to begin range-of-motion exercises today. He would not estimate how long it will take before Tate is able to return to full speed.

“Each case is different,” Barry said. “We’ll just take that day by day.”

Coach Al Luginbill said he will support whatever course Tate takes in his rehabilitation.

“You realize the ligaments that were in there were old injuries and he was 100%,” said Luginbill of Tate, who was slowed by early season injuries last year before catching six passes for 56 yards. “These are old injuries.”

Tate aggravated the injury while running a pass pattern. “It was just a freak thing,” Luginbill said. “There was nobody (he) hit or anything.”

Tate, who caught a school-record 49 passes his senior year at Southwest and had impressed Aztec coaches with his speed and instincts, emerged from spring practices as a top candidate for the H-back spot along with Larry Maxey and Ray Peterson. Redshirt freshman DeAndre Maxwell, who has looked impressive in fall workouts, has replaced Tate in that three-man battle.