Another One! FSU lands 4-star CB Cai Bates, cementing best secondary class
Florida State, which already boasted one of, if not the best, defensive back recruiting classes in the country for 2024, has likely removed all doubt.
The Seminoles landed a commitment from four-star cornerback Cai Bates on Friday.
Bates, who decommitted from LSU a few weeks ago, is the No. 101 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He is also ranked as the 11th-best cornerback and 16th-best player in the state of Florida.
While on campus in Tallahassee for Florida State’s game against Miami, the Orlando prospect was committed to LSU. Bates opened up his recruitment shortly after his trip to FSU.
“Florida State is still in it,” Bates told On3’s Chad Simmons after his visit to Florida State, “The atmosphere was great and the fans were electric. I spent time with Coach Patrick Surtain, Coach David Johnson and [support staff member] Keiwan Ratliff, and the environment was exciting.”
“I got to talk with other recruits (Cam Coleman and Wardell Mack), in my class, and we talked about the program. Coach [Mike] Norvell is building something that’ll continue to be a force in college football for years to come.”
The trip to Tallahassee to see the ‘Noles take on Miami was his first since his official visit back in June. At that point in the summer, it was clear that the Seminoles were in the race.
“It was exciting. It opened my eyes a lot, really,” Bates said after his official visit. “I just really got more than what I expected coming here. Definitely, just all the opportunities, all the coaches, all the people around you, just people around me, great people. Look out for you as a person more than a football player, so that’s big for me.”
Bates also attended the Florida State vs. LSU game in his hometown in the season’s first week. That was the perceived turning point in this recruitment.
This adds to what already was a strong 2024 secondary class for the Seminoles. Bates joins five-star safety KJ Bolden, five-star corner Charles Lester and four-star Jamari Howard.
To see the Seminoles newest commit in action, check out his hudl here.
More on Florida State’s Red Hot 2024 Recruiting Class
For a deeper look into the Seminoles’ 2024 recruiting class player by player, check out their official On3 team commitment list. Also you can find out where Florida State stacks up against the top teams in the country with On3’s Industry Ranking page.
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