The B.B. Comer standout said there were other schools pursuing him, but his visit to Huntingdon helped him make his decision.
“It was something that I had to think about because I had a lot of other colleges looking at me,” Bates said. “They sent me a letter to the school and said come visit. (Former teammate) Del (Franklin) was my host and it just felt like home. We chilled; they helped me out. They showed me classes and it just felt like home. It is a great place to go to.”
B.B. Comer head coach Tripp Henderson is elated that Bates is going to play on the next level. He believes if he had 11 guys like Bates coaching would be easy.
“First of all we are really proud of him,” Henderson said. “I can’t think of anybody that deserves this more than him. He has done everything that I asked of him since I have been here. I only had him for two years, but he had a great attitude through both of those years. I gage players a lot by how often you see them in the summer because those are the guys that are going to work for you and produce on the field. He was here every day during the summer. He never missed, never had an excuse; he was just a hard working kid. He played hard with a great attitude. You never have to worry about him in the classroom and you never have to worry about him in school. If you had 11 like him your job would be easy.”
Bates was part of Comer’s trio of backs, which rushed for over 3,000 yards last season. Henderson said that Bates wasn’t just effective running the ball; he did so much for the team.
“He helped us out a lot there,” Henderson said. ”We had him in a position I don’t think he was completely comfortable in, but he did what we asked him to do. We ask a lot of our backs to do a lot of things without the football like blocking and being unselfish. He and Mike (Hale) did a great job of that this year. I felt like his strongpoint was blocking. He helped out a lot without the ball in his hands; obviously he helped us with the ball in his hands. I was proud of the things he was able to accomplish.”
Bates played on both sides of the ball for the B.B. Comer last season. Bates, who signed as an athlete, told the coaches he would play wherever they needed him to play.
“I am signing as an athlete,” Bates said. ”They asked me the other day what would I rather play. I told them that I want to play offense, but I told them wherever they think I could fit on the field then that is where I will play for them.”
Former Comer quarterback Del Franklin made an impact on Bates decision to commit to Huntingdon College.
“Del helped me out a lot,” Bates said. “He showed me around and told me stuff that I needed to know. He showed me the workouts. As soon as I walked into the workout room all the players knew me. It felt like a big family already.”
Bates believes that he wouldn’t be in this position if it were not for God and his family.
“I just want to thank God and it is like a dream come true,” Bates said. “All thanks goes to God and my family.”
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