Note: The following appears in the NC State football gameday program.
The Clemson atmosphere is centered around a welcoming, family-style community built on hard work and integrity, and that extends to athletics. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has worked extremely hard to continue to instill that same culture within the football program. Swinney is intentional with recruiting hard-working players on the field who are honorable men off the field as well.
This can be said for senior offensive lineman Marcus Tate, who has been an excellent representative of the Clemson culture.
Hailing from Sunrise, Fla., Tate has been a three-year starter and is looking to cap off an exceptional career at Clemson with a strong senior campaign in 2024. Not only has Tate been an important piece on the gridiron for the Tigers, he has also made a big impact in the community.
Growing up in the Sunshine State, Tate is very proud of his hometown and loves representing it. He is close with the community in Broward County and has always had a tight-knit relationship with his family and friends, and he continues to hold them close. Tate is very thankful for his mother and grandparents for always supporting him while growing up.
“Shout out to my mother…she’s been there from the jump with everything. She raised me by herself, and she always made a bunch of sacrifices to make sure I got what I needed. She made sure to get me to places when I needed to be there, even if she couldn’t do it herself. She was always making the impossible happen. I am very blessed to have her in my corner.”
Tate was primarily a basketball player growing up until his freshman year in high school. After attending some football camps and outperforming seniors in a competitive area, he realized he could make it big in football. Quickly becoming a four-star prospect, Tate had all the top programs fighting for his services, but he was ultimately drawn towards Tigertown.
“I didn’t think there was a better atmosphere that I wanted to be a part of. I fit the family culture here, and that aspect was a big part of it. It was a no-brainer. That’s why I shut down the recruiting process early in high school.”
Tate has been a starter since his freshman year, becoming only the third Tiger offensive lineman since 1972 to start a season opener as a first-year freshman, but he has had his fair share of adversity throughout his time at Clemson. After having season-ending injuries late in the season the past two years, he persevered and stayed positive to return healthy in both situations.
“The most important thing that has kept me positive is my faith in God. I knew it wasn’t the end for me and I knew I was going to get through it. I always kept in my mind that this isn’t forever…it’s temporary.
“I prayed every day and talked to God. He kept me sane, kept me focused and helped me approach every day with gratitude that I have another day to live and another day to attack my rehab. As long as I attacked my rehab, everything was going to work itself out.”
Having been through those ups and downs has helped Tate in several ways. One way is in the locker room. Having already been a three-year starter, he has become one of the stronger voices in the locker room and a well-respected veteran leader.
“The best part of being a leader is being yourself every day, and I try to bring that authenticity to the locker room. I want to make people comfortable about being themselves, because that’s the best way you get the best out of people. Leading by example is the most important thing you can do. As much as I can, I pour into the younger players and tell them what to do and how to do it.”
As impressive of a career Tate has had on the field for Clemson, he has also had a major impact off the field in the community. Tate started the Marcus Tate Care Closet for elementary schools in the Upstate to ensure that students have basic needs at home. Tate has wanted to be involved in the community since he was a kid and was inspired by people in his community.
“I’m a big believer in investing in the youth. For the Care Closet, we have a bunch of hygiene products, women’s products, clothes, shoes and things that are not really pencil and paper for kids, but other items they might not have at home. We put these in Title I schools, where these kids don’t have that stuff at home, and we allow them to have these products when they go to school so they can feel comfortable in their own skin. This allows them to have confidence when they’re in the classroom, when they’re socializing with their friends and allows them to focus on learning.”
Tate’s involvement in the community is another display of how impactful he is as a person and player for the program and how he embodies the Clemson culture…a hard-working individual who makes a difference off the field and in the community.
A rock-solid piece as an offensive guard the last three years, look for Tate to lead Clemson on and off the field as the Tigers pursue another championship season.
