Alabama transfer WR Bates fitting right in at Edgewater

When Cai Bates moved from Pinson, Ala., to Orlando last year, he had high expectations for himself. He just didn’t expect everything to take off so quickly.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound receiver/cornerback jumped right into Edgewater’s starting lineup in spring practice and has been a mainstay since.

His 2021 season was so impressive — 17 catches for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns — that Bates already has scholarship offers from Indiana and Iowa State heading into his junior year.

“He’s a 3.8 student, starter on the varsity basketball team, great young man, great family ... works his butt off,” Edgewater coach Cameron Duke said. “He won the starting job right away as a sophomore. He has really good tape. He’s long and athletic. He’s really a can’t-miss kid as far as a college-recruited athlete moving forward.”

Duke is certainly happy to have Bates, who grew up in Orlando but moved to Alabama — where his father’s family is from — just before his 8th-grade year and returned in the middle of his freshman year.

He already has drawn comparisons to former Edgewater standout Tommi Hill, who recently transferred to Nebraska after signing with Arizona State out of high school.

“We’re going to have him playing some corner and safety, just defensive back this spring ... kinda like we used to do with Tommi Hill,” Duke said. “We’ll get him some versatility and some film from both sides so he can add some more value to his recruitment. I think he can play either side of the ball.

“He reminds me of [Hill] their sophomore years. Both are good kids, work hard, love coaching him. Both are long athletes at that age.”

Bates wants to make his own mark, but he said the comparisons are humbling.

“It’s a good thing, but I am my own person,” Bates said, “It is a good thing to be compared to [Hill] because he was a great player at Edgewater. He did a lot of good things.”

Bates is certainly happy he moved back to Orlando. His mother, Elonda Bates, took a better job and wanted a better environment for her kids.

“She thought I had a lot more opportunities here than in Alabama,” Bates said. “It wasn’t so difficult for me because I grew up here. My mom’s side of the family is from [Orlando] and my dad’s side is from Alabama.”

“It was a pretty smooth transition to Edgewater. They accepted me when I came in ... good people. My teammates were really accepting.

“I’m really excited about it. I came in and it was a blessing I got into a really good program with Coach Duke and everybody. They really look out for me.”

During his freshman year at Pinson Valley High, Bates didn’t play much as a corner because he was sitting behind high school all-American Kool-Aid McKinstry, who started as a true freshman at Alabama this past season. That prompted his move to receiver, where he excelled.

He said the difference between Florida and Alabama football is very evident.

“Florida football is a whole different style. It’s a lot faster, a lot different, ... speed and passing the ball,” Bates said. “In Alabama, it’s more power football and everybody is big and strong and all that.”