Tate attended Hugh M. Cummings High School in Burlington, North Carolina, where he played football as a wide receiver, kick returner, and defensive back and basketball as a guard.

In the Tar Heels game against the Utah Utes, Tate returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

Brandon Tate caught his first pass from Cameron Sexton, in the Tar Heels game against the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Tate faked a pitch to teammate Quinton Person, and bolted down the field into the end zone.

With seventeen seconds remaining in the first half of the game, Tate returned a kick off 97 yards for a touchdown.

In the opening game of Tate's junior season against James Madison, he caught his first touchdown pass of his career.

This was Tate's fifth career return for a touchdown, which tied the school record; which was held by Charlie Justice.

In North Carolina's game against NC State, Brandon Tate recorded 168 all-purpose yards.

[4] In the Tar Heels' game against Miami, Tate set the NCAA record for most combined kick off and punt return yards in a career.

Tate ended up tearing his ACL and MCL in his knee and missed the final seven games of the season.

He played that week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a reserve, recording one rush (an end-around) for 11 yards.

Tate suffered another knee injury in the game and was placed on injured reserve on November 14, ending his season.

On September 12, 2010, in the Patriots' season-opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tate ran the opening second-half kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown.

[9] On October 4, 2010, Tate repeated the feat against the Miami Dolphins, this time returning the ball 103 yards.

[19][20] During the season, Tate surpassed Mike Martin to become the Bengals all-time punt return yard leader.

[21] Tate was released by the Bengals on August 30, 2016, having been beaten out for the primary return man role by undrafted rookie Alex Erickson.