Wake Forest Athletics
Bates III Named to USA Today Freshman All-America Team
12/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeFB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Safety Jessie Bates III of Wake Forest was today named to the USA Today Freshman All-America team. Bates was joined at the other safety position by Taylor Rapp of Washington.
Bates III, a 6-2, 200-pound redshirt freshman from Fort Wayne, IN (Snider HS) was a starter in all 12 games this season for the Demon Deacons. He finished second on the team with 93 tackles and was the team leader with five interceptions for 158 yards.
On the year, Bates III is tied for ninth in the nation in interceptions and ranks first among all freshmen in the country with five picks. He leads all freshmen with 158 interception return yards and was the only freshman with two interception returns for touchdowns.
In the ACC, Bates III ranks 14th with 7.8 tackles per game and is second in the league in tackles among freshmen.
Bates had a remarkable game at Indiana on Sept. 24, playing in front of dozens of friends and family members. He led the team with eight tackles, intercepted a Hoosier pass in the end zone and returned it 39 yards leading to a Deacon touchdown. Early in the second quarter Bates III intercepted another IU pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown to give Wake Forest a 14-7 lead. Wake Forest went on to win 33-28 in Bloomington.
