Cameron Brate
| No. 84 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | July 3, 1991 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Naperville, Illinois | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Naperville Central High School | ||||||||
| College: | Harvard | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2014 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2015 | |||||||||
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Cameron Brate (born July 3, 1991) is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life
Brate grew up in Naperville, IL and attended Naperville Central High School. As a Freshman, he was cut from the A team and was a starting WR on the Freshman B team. Brate has since looked back on his younger days, saying, "I never take it for granted, playing in the NFL. There were times I spent 6 straight hours in the weight room perfecting my absolute craft." Brate eventually rose to the top by his senior year of high school being recruited by a slew of Division 1 schools. Brate played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He was named captain of the football team as a senior. Brate earned All-State special mention by the Chicago Tribune.
Brate was well known throughout the Naperville, IL area for his eating habits. On two separate occasions during his high school career he ate 4 chipotle burritos in one sitting. One of the times he managed to run a sub 5:00 mile afterwards.
College
Started all 28 games he appeared in at Harvard, tallying 91 receptions for 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns (2010–13). Ranks fourth in school history with 18 touchdown receptions. Earned second straight unanimous All-Ivy League first team selection after finishing senior season (2013), starting eight games with 25 receptions for 403 yards, and five touchdowns. Member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Academic All-Star Team. Unanimous first-team All-Ivy League selection after junior season (2012), compiling 41 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns in 10 starts. Named to first team Capital One All-America. Voted second-team All-Ivy League after sophomore season (2011), recording 25 catches for 386 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 starts. Was a member of the junior varsity team as a freshman in 2010. Brate shared a special bond with close friend and teammate Danny Frate. Cameron was also considered to be "The Chosen One" by Dunster House Master Roger B. Porter during the 2014 pursuit of the Straus Cup.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On November 25, 2014, Brate was promoted to the active roster.[1] On September 15, 2015, he was released by the Buccaneers.
New Orleans Saints
On September 16, 2015, the New Orleans Saints signed Brate to their practice squad.[2]
Return to the Buccaneers
Brate returned to the team on September 22, 2015, after being on the Saint's practice squad for a week. Since that time Brate has recorded his first 3 NFL touchdowns. The touchdown catch on November 29, 2015 at Indianapolis happened in front of 25 of his closest family and friends who made the trip down from Naperville.
Cam Brate has been quoted multiple times, "The boys from back home in Naperville give me strength and keep me humble. They understand the sacrifice and what it takes to be great. Their friendships add fuel to my fire, and my fire burns bright as ever as I enter my third year in this league."
References
- ↑ Smith, Scott. "Roster Moves Indicate Changes, Concerns". Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ↑ Underhill, Nick; Erickson, Joel A. (September 17, 2015). "New Orleans Saints bring back Joe Morgan; Drew Brees is closing in on more Dan Marino records". The Advocate (Louisiana). Retrieved September 18, 2015.