MONTANA STATE BOBCATS
TRAVIS YATES – Defensive line – Orange Lutheran High – Orange, California
The Numbers: The 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman is a 3-star prospect regarded as one of the top recruits in the FCS. As a senior strong-side defensive end, Yates piled up 30 tackles and a pair of sacks for his Trinity League school. He finished his career with 101 tackles, six sacks and four forced fumbles.
The Accolades: The 3-star recruit held offers from Hawaii, Nevada, Central Florida, Northern Arizona, Montana and Montana State before deciding on the Bobcats. He is a two-time All-CIF selection that multiple scouting sites and newspapers ranked him among the top 25 defensive linemen in California. He is ranked as the 96th-best strong-side defensive end in the country. His father (Shane) and brother (Timothy) each served two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Timothy is a Purple Heart recipient.
Academics: Business
Yates on Montana State: “They have a tradition there that is not going to change for anybody. They have a fan base that is unlike any other place I’ve been to. I’ve never heard of walking to a game before the game and people start asking for pictures. That’s crazy. It will be amazing to be a part of.”
Coach Choate on Yates: “He was the preseason pick as the Trinity League Defensive Lineman of the Year, which is a pretty unique honor. He plays in a very, very competitive league, is a multi-year starter. He was an early commit who stayed with us while a lot of schools made a run at him. He has the size and explosiveness to potentially come in and compete and play early (in his career). He is a high, high quality young man, a tremendous kid.”
Story on Yates commitment: Treasure State lifestyle sold Yates on Bobcats
