Four-Star CB Cai Bates sets commitment date, names finalists

Four-star cornerback Cai Bates of Orlando (FL) Edgewater narrowed his list to 7 schools Tuesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-2, 185 pounder is down to the following: Alabama, Colorado, Florida State, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Ohio State.

The Sunshine State defensive back will announce his college decision on July 26th.

Bates discusses finalists

Alabama is a household name in college football, their is no denying the success the program has had, and having the opportunity to be coached by nick Saban as a defensive backs coach as well is ideal

Coach Prime is one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game and from the same state as me, why not get coached by him.

FSU is close to home and coach Norvell is a high energy coach and has always let me know that I’m wanted in the program and needed, I know he would look out for me as a person before a football player as well.

LSU is known for producing defensive backs and the culture of the program is very rich, the coaching staff is very welcoming and took the time to build relationships with all of my family. The opportunity to play early is there as well.

Texas A&M is a strong program in the SEC and coach BGA is a coach that I know has my best interest and will definitely look out for me and develop me as a person and player

The coaching staff at Tennessee looks out for me as well. I have a really good relationship with them. I would have the opportunity to play early to play there, too. They have a lot of senior defensive backs leaving, so the opportunity to play early is definitely there. 

Ohio State has great opportunities for networking and building connections for after football, just as much as building connections for the game of football, they will always be in competition for the big10 and the competition is going to do nothing but elevate me as a defensive back going against the best receivers every day.

Bates ranks as the No. 92 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 12 cornerback and the No. 11 player in the state of Florida.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $108K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.