"Rob Gronkowski is probably the real beast": Former Wildcat Brandon Tatum once shared his cheerful Arizona memories alongside Gronk
Former New England Patriots tight end and Tom Brady's reception partner in four Super Bowl wins, nfl/rob-gronkowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Rob Gronkowski was a member of the Arizona Wildcats from 2007 to 2009. However, he didn't play any games in the third season due to injury. Instead, he would go on to get drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 draft.
Ahead of Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1, 2015, former Wildcat teammate Brandon Tatum recalled what it was like to have Gronk as a teammate during his time in Arizona. In an interview with Richie Melby of KVOA-TV in Tucson, Tatum provided details about his on-the-field experience with Gronk:
"I think it was maybe my sophomore year when he came in as a freshman, and it was shocking to see a freshman that size with the ability he had," Tatum said.
"He made an impact right away. A lot of people consider 'Beast Mode' to be someone like Maran, and he's a beast for sure, but I would beg to differ—Gronk is probably the real 'Beast Mode.'"
Tatum talked about Rob Gronkowski's personality when he was in college.
"When I first met him, he was like a big kid—quiet, a little shy and everything. But when he strapped on the pads, put on the gear, and hit the football field, he played like a man," Tatum added.
Brandon Tatum hails Rob Gronkowski as the best tight end of college football
Brandon Tatum gave his assessment of Rob Gronkowski's skills on the gridiron, hailing him as one of the best.
"The way he runs routes and creates matchups was impressive, even as a freshman—it was very telling. I had the pleasure of covering him in practice, and I won some, but I lost a lot," Tatum said.
Adding more to the discussion, Tatum said he "wasn't surprised" by how Rob Gronkowski took the NFL world by surprise.
"Yeah, I wasn't surprised," Tatum added. "Like I said, even in his freshman year, I think he could have played in the NFL. There were some factors with the team and our national position that kept his name from being as big, but I’d argue he was probably one of the best tight ends in college football history.
"With his size, ability, catching skills, route running, and maturity, I think he was easily one of the best ever."
While in college, Rob Gronkowski was named third-team All American in 2008. In 22 college football games he played, the tight end caught 75 receptions for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns.