2014 Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High linebacker Dillon Bates has been on a roll lately with two new offers in the past two weeks.
“Florida and Texas both offered me in the last two weeks,” Bates said. “Coach D.J Durkin has been on me about visiting Florida, and he told me that they have a place for me in the locker room at Florida and want me to be a Florida Gator. This is a big offer for me with me living in Florida and having friends at Florida already.”
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Bates’ father, Bill Bates, played at Tennessee before going on to star with the Dallas Cowboys.
With Bates being a Tennessee legacy, most would believe he is lock to the Volunteers, but according to the younger Bates, that isn’t true.
“With my dad playing there, everyone thinks that’s where I’m going,” Bates said. “But my dad told me that it’s my decision and to go wherever I feel comfortable and to make sure to visit schools to find the best fit for me.”
Bates has visited Florida several times, and he really likes the defense the Gators put on the field under Will Muschamp.
“Florida is a very successful program,” Bates said. “It’s honor to me that I could be a part of their program and be a piece of keeping the honor and tradition alive that’s special to me. As far as the defense, they have a good, intense and physical defense that fits my style of play that I play with in high school.”
While on visits to Florida, Bates and his family have had the chance to sit down with Muschamp and Durkin, but one conversation stands out to him.
“The last time I was there me and my family sat down in coach Muschamp’s office for 30 minutes,” Bates said. “We didn’t just talk about recruiting we talked about everything, including my family too life outside of football.”
This coming weekend, Bates will be in Gainesville for Florida’s junior day.