Former Florida State cornerback Cai Bates commits to Wisconsin football
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
MADISON – Once a player starts his college career, the number of stars he received as a prep recruit loses some of its meaning.
But in the case of Cai Bates it sheds some light on his potential.
Before the 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback enrolled at Florida State two years ago he was considered a consensus four-star prospect who was rated the 17th-best recruit for his class in the talent-rich state of Florida.
It is that potential that the Wisconsin coaching staff will try to unlock. The rising redshirt sophomore committed to the Badgers on Jan. 5 after two years at Florida State. On3 reported the news and Bates reposted it on his X page.
Bates played in 10 games with the Seminoles, three as a freshman in what ended up being a redshirt year and seven in 2025, when he was a reserve and special teams player for a team that finished 5-7.
He finished with one tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he played two games and 26 snaps on defense. The rest of his appearances were on special teams.
By adding Bates, Wisconsin continues to fill a glaring need for its defense. UW added former Oklahoma State cornerback Eric Fletcher on Jan. 3.
Wisconsin also signed high school cornerbacks Carsen Eloms and Donovan Dunmore, but the team likely will need more veteran help at a position where Omillio Agard, a rising redshirt sophomore, is the only player with starting experience, and rising sophomore Cairo Skanes is the only other returning player who received significant playing time.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Florida State defensive back Cai Bates commits to Wisconsin
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos