Tennessee Official Visitor Capsule: Cai Bates

The Tennessee Volunteers host twelve official visitors this weekend, 2024 four-star corner Cai Bates included. Bates is one of the top defensive backs in the class, and the major players in his recruitment are Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU. He hasn't set a commitment date, but the Vols can't rule out that this could be his last time on campus before he commits.

The one thing working in their favor is that Bates hasn't been to Knoxville yet. As odd as that sounds, Tennessee has made it this far with him without getting him in front of their coaches. A productive official visit would go a long way in helping their chances, and trust me; the coaching staff will do everything they can to ensure they do because this is a really, really talented football player.

Prospect: Cai Bates

Projected Position: Boundary Corner

Vitals: 6-1.5 and 177 pounds

School: Edgewater High School (Orlando, Florida)

Frame: Fits the Tennessee corner profile. Can definitely stand to add weight in college, but every corner this age deals with that problem. He's big enough to fit the boundary mold but could also play inside. Will match up well with most wide receivers he will see at the college level. Bates has long arms and can dislodge footballs even when out of position.

Athleticism: One of the most fluid movers in the class. Bates can drop his hips and flip on a dime, allowing him to naturally react to routes. He doesn't have elite straight-line speed, but his turn of direction allows him to get anywhere on the field faster than most. The ankle flexion is impressive, as is the hip dexterity. One of the most athletic defensive backs that Tennessee will get on campus all summer.

Instincts: Bates plays the football well out of the air. His change of direction ability allows him to turn around and check where the football is, a luxury most defensive backs don't have. Instead of playing the receiver, Bates can play the ball and does it quite well.

Polish: Catches the ball much better than any corner in the class. Keeps the football away from his body and catches it with his hands. Bates is one of the best man-cover corners in the class and can plug and play on the boundary from day one. He doesn't have much experience in zone-matching, but his high school did allow him to do more in zone coverage as a junior.

Bottom Line: A top-ten corner evaluation in the 2024 class for my money. Bates would be an excellent addition to any program and likely will play his college football in the southeast. The SEC could be getting a strong corner, and Tennessee will do anything it can to ensure that he chooses the Vols on commitment day.

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