NOTRE DAME — To say Golden Tate has had a breakout year would be a gross understatement.

After hauling in 10 TDs in the fall, Tate is now more than making his mark on the baseball team this spring.

"I'm learning the game more. It's working out," Tate told WSBT Sports.

"He's grown in a lot of ways. He's now grown into a baseball player, and he's got a great future ahead of him," said Notre Dame coach Dave Schrage.

The common denominator, whether on the gridiron or the diamond? Speed, speed, and more speed.

"He's got Major League speed. I haven't had anyone as fast as him," Schrage said.

Watching Tate on the base-paths is as neat as watching him beat the defense for a bomb.

"I'm gonna go from first to third until someone proves me wrong," said Tate.

"The thing about Golden is that he wants to keep going. He's run through me a lot, but he's made it and that's a good thing," said Schrage.

But in general, Tate's still listening to his two coaches so he can make this whole two-sport thing work. What about Mr. Big baseball fan, Charlie Weis?

"I go into his office and he tells me I need to hit more ground balls. Then I say Coach, you're the football coach now -- but he knows the game," joked Tate.

If Tate continues at this torrid pace, he just might looking at some more "golden opportunities," ala Jeff Samardzija a few years back.

"I love both sports. Hopefully I can be like Jeff and have some choices," Tate said.