Cai Bates Announces Visit To Knoxville
Tennessee continues to beat the drum, so beat writers must as well. Head coach Josh Heupel harped on the lack of secondary depth several times this season and has hit the recruiting trail searching for the next top defensive backs on Rocky Top.
2024 four-star corner Cai Bates hails from Orlando, Florida. He stands 6-1.5 and weighs 180 pounds. Bates has 43 offers, including one from Tennessee, which he received in March of this year when he took an unofficial visit. He announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he would be back in Knoxville for an official visit on the weekend of June 16-18, when several other elite prospects are visiting.
Tennessee Official Visitors: June 16-18
- Jerrick Gibson, RB
- Braylon Staley, WR
- Daniel Calhoun, OL
- Marques Easley, OL
- Kamarion Franklin, DE
- Edwin Spillman, ILB
- Cai Bates, CB
- Omillio Agard, CB
- Jarvis Boatwright, S
- Travaris Banks, S
Bates is a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball in addition to football. He averaged over five points per game on the hardwood last season, but the gridiron is where he makes his name. Bates played as a wide receiver as a sophomore, totaling 17 receptions for 363 yards and three scores. In 2022, he moved to corner. Even still, he again had 17 catches for 241 yards and a score. Defensively, though, he had four interceptions. He is a really exciting prospect because there is so much room for growth with how little experience he has in the position. It is clear, though, that he is an athlete, so he should be able to adapt. In his short time on the outside defensively, he has shown the great ball-tracking ability of a former receiver, which should be a top trait of his going forward.
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