Joshua Tate brings steady tackling and playmaking upside to Southern’s linebacker room
In the 2024 season, Southern linebacker Joshua Tate showed reliable production with 20 tackles, 13 assists, one pass breakup, and a pick-six, which points to a defender who can stay involved and make momentum-shifting plays.[1] At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he profiles more as an active, rangy second-level defender than a pure thumper, and ESPN lists him as an active junior for the Jaguars.[1] The biggest differentiator is his knack for disrupting snaps when the ball is there to be won, making him a useful fit for a defense that values pursuit, coverage awareness, and opportunistic playmaking.[1]
