Travis Yates has traveled the country exploring his various options for his future. The trout streams and the fertile hunting grounds of Montana appeal more to him than the beaches of Hawaii or the unique culture of Reno.
Yates, a senior to be at Lutheran High School in Orange County, California, has garnered interest from football programs across the West. Two of his most fervent suitors make their homes in the Treasure State. Yates visited both Missoula and Bozeman to check out the University of Montana and Montana State University.
[restrict paid=”true”]“I love hunting, fishing and playing football and I honestly don’t think there’s a better place to do that than in Montana,” Yates said.
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman went on visits to Central Florida, Nevada-Reno, Oregon, Duke, San Jose State, Hawaii and the Montana schools. After traveling “all over God’s green earth”, the draw of the Gallatin Valley was too much to pass up. Earlier this summer, Yates gave his verbal commitment to new Montana State head coach Jeff Choate that he will sign with the Bobcats in February of 2017.
“They have a tradition there that is not going to change for anybody,” Yates said. “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.”
The 3-star recruit held offers from Hawaii, Nevada, Central Florida, Northern Arizona, Montana and Montana State before deciding on the Bobcats. Yates said he liked what the other schools had to offer but the recreational and academic opportunities combined with the football-rich culture of the Montana schools narrowed his choice.
He ultimately chose the Bobcats over the Grizzlies because of recruiting coordinator Michael Pitre’s “integrity and honest recruiting pitch” coupled with his past experience with Choate. Yates attended Washington’s individual camp when Choate was the defensive line coach for the Huskies in Seattle.
“The thing that set Montana State apart, the way the coaches were talking to me and called me when they said they were going to call me helped,” Yates said. “There was a time period for awhile where I didn’t hear anything from the Montana Griz. I know the Montana Griz have a great program and I considered it but I just felt like Montana State was a better fit.
“Coach Choate is trying to build a program with grinders, guys who are going to do everything they can to win a game,” Yates said. “I want to be a part of it. He talked about winning with integrity and losing with integrity. He said he wants to help me not just for the four years but for the 40 years I have after football.”
Yates wants to major in business and minor in kinesiology, something that helped play into his decision as well, he said.
Orange Lutheran is a private school of about 1,300 students in Orange County. The football team plays in the Trinity League with California powerhouses like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Servite and Santa Margarita High. The league has produced star athletes like a string of former USC starting quarterbacks like Matt Barkley and Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Matt Treanor, former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and Tampa Bay Devil Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.
Last season, Yates earned All-CIF honors by notching 50 tackles, four sacks and forcing four forced fumbles. Multiple scouting sites and newspapers ranked him among the top 25 defensive linemen in California. During his upcoming senior season, he’ll get a chance to test himself against some of the best in the country. Orange Lutheran opens up against perennial national power Bellevue (Washington) High. The team also plays Denver powerhouse Mullen High School and California powerhouse Corona Centennial, the latter a top five team nationally according to various national rankings.
“I love traveling on the road or having those teams come to us and being the underdog and playing smash mouth football and having a good time,” said Yates who finished football practice shortly before the interview. Orange Lutheran opens fall camp the first day of August and starts school on August 15.
Yates said deciding on his college future and committing before his senior year was something important to him.
“My goal was to be committed before my senior year of football just to have that stress off of me,” Yates said. “There’s a lot of stuff that comes with a decision like that. I just want to enjoy my senior year with my brothers and have a good time out there.
“God has blessed me with the God-given ability I have, obviously I’ve had to work but I’m excited to play at the next level. Hopefully, God continues to bless me to play at the next level and everything I can do after that.”
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Photos courtesy of Travis Yates. All Rights Reserved.
