Sam Garnes is going home, to a team that needs help at his position. Robert Tate is going where the odds are stacked against him. Regardless, the two University of Cincinnati players were just thrilled to be their school's first NFL draftees since 1994.
Garnes, a strong safety from the Bronx, N.Y., was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round. New York needs a strong safety to replace the departed Jesse Campbell, so Garnes (6-3, 225) could get a good look.
''It's a dream come true, definitely, to go back to New York,'' Garnes said. ''The Jets were my team when I was a kid, but I always loved Bill Parcells and Lawrence Taylor and their defense.''
Tate, a receiver from Harrisburg, Pa., was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round. The Vikings are loaded at receiver with Cris Carter and Jake Reed, plus backups Qadry Ismail and David Palmer.
Tate is a bit short (5-foot-10) and light (188) in today's big-receiver game, and admittedly was surprised to go to receiver-happy Minnesota.
''It was not the last team on my list but it was close, as far as who I thought might pick me,'' Tate said. ''But I'm thrilled. I feel I can help them out on special teams or as a third-down receiver.''
Tate led the nation in kickoff returns as a junior, averaging 34.3 yards per return in 1995 but slipped to 18.4 in 1996. Additionally, his pass receptions dipped from 46 to 23 over the same span.
His stock therefore dropped, but his speed (sub 4.4 clockings in the 40 dash) caught the eye of Minnesota coach Dennis Green, who cited Tate's ''sheer speed and big-play capability that can stretch the field.''
Garnes and Tate are the first UC players drafted in three years, when defensive backs Michael Davis and Jocelyn Borgella went in the fourth and sixth rounds to Houston and Detroit, respectively.
Borgella recently signed a free-agent deal with the Bengals.
Not so lucky
UC safety Chris Hewitt, projected as a possible fourth- to seventh-round draftee, went undrafted. He may have been hurt by a slow time at the NFL combine (4.72 dash).
Hewitt said Sunday night that he was undecided on free-agency choices.
Among locals who went undrafted, several agreed to free-agent deals Sunday. Cincinnati attorney Richard Katz said three of his clients agreed to terms: UC defensive back Jermaine Trent (with Baltimore); former Roger Bacon and University of Kentucky receiver Isaac Curtis III (Jacksonville); and former Winton Woods and Ball State cornerback Raphael Ball (Detroit).
Additionally: UC receiver Anthony Ladd said he agreed to terms with Atlanta, and UC defensive end Terry Grooms said he agreed to sign with the Jets.
Indiana running back Alex Smith (Franklin County High), who gave up his final year of eligibility with the Hoosiers in order to try his luck in the NFL, was not drafted.
BENGALS DRAFT PAGE
