6 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Tate Snyder

#6 Tate Snyder Redshirt Freshman 5-11 | 223 Manhattan, Kan. Bio

Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship

William Tate Snyder (b. Nov. 19, 1991) is the second Manhattan product to be profiled today. But of course, he's no "ordinary" Manhattan High graduate, is he?

First, the facts. Snyder was a first-team all-state selection in his senior year. He was named one of the state's top 11 by The Topeka Capital-Journal, also was first-team all-conference and participated in the 2010 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

None of that convinced Rivals.com that he is a Division I-caliber player, though. They rated him a two-star prospect and listed him with just one collegiate offer — us.

A cynic might look at a BCS roster that is 10 scholarships under the maximum and question if Snyder's last name is part of the reason why he's one of the 75 on scholarship. Said skeptic might even use the N-word*.

After all, a coaching position was created explicitly for his father, Sean, where none previously existed.

But I'm going to take the high road here and give young Tate the benefit of the doubt. He used his redshirt season to add more than 20 pounds to his frame and, due to an injury to Jarell Childs, entered fall camp listed second at WILL.

Snyder started on the weak side for the White team in the spring game and collected two tackles. He's likely to see playing time at least on special teams this year and could find his way into the three-deep if Childs doesn't return.

*Nepotism, not whatever you were thinking.