The Under Armour All-American stand out played his senior season at 215 pounds. He will arrive in Knoxville at 230 pounds. "I've just been eating more and doing the Tennessee workouts and I just have been able to add weight," Bates said. "When I get up there and get on their nutrition plan, I will only get stronger and will be able to hold the weight."
"I got to sit in on meetings when I was up there in the spring to start to get a grasp of the defense," Bates said. "I have been talking to the coaches and I asked them what do you need me to do this spring. They told me to arrive in shape and to be mentally ready. I have talked to a lot of the early enrollees and they have all talked about how the pace is different and that's been their biggest adjustment. I think that will be mine also."
"I'm honestly just so excited that it's finally here," Bates said. "All this recruiting stuff started my freshman year and I'm just excited to be there to move into the dorm and get set up and get started."
Like many signees, Bates will move in on Monday, go to class on Thursday, and then fly home on Saturday, May 31st, for his graduation ceremony.
