By Ryan Wallace
MANHATTAN, Kan. (247Sports.com) – After first bolstering the offensive line in the form of North Dakota transfer tackle Easton Kilty, K-State has gone back to the portal to spice up competition along the defensive line. Monday, the Wildcats won over another FCS player with the commitment from Austin Peay defensive end Travis Bates fresh off an official visit in Manhattan.
Holding transfer offers from the likes of Boston College, Houston and Wisconsin, the 6-foot-3, 265 pounder heads to the Big 12 in 2024 after a promising start to his collegiate career this past fall, one that recently earned him 4th Team Freshman All-America accolades from Phil Steele.
As a redshirt freshman for the Governors this season, Bates was credited with 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups and a blocked kick over 10 games played. An eight-time starter in his inaugural campaign, Bates was a catalyst for Austin Peay capturing a UAC Championship and finishing 9-3 with a Top 50 scoring defense. In 541 snaps played according to PFF, the analytics site awarded Bates a 71.5 overall defensive grade, one that included being charted for 23 quarterback hurries.
Bates announced his entry into the portal the day after UTEP declared his former head coach Scotty Walden as its replacement for Dana Dimel.
Originally from outside of Houston, Tex., Bates first committed to Colorado State out of high school before flipping to Austin Peay on Signing Day 2022. His former Tomball head coach Dave Handal believes K-State is getting a positive asset for the program and its locker room for three years to come.
“Travis is one of the best players that I have ever coached,” Handal told GPC after the news broke. “Not only is he a phenomenal player on the field, he is even better off of it.”
“It has been a pleasure watching him develop into the player and young man that he is today,” Handal continued of his former pupil, who once logged a 1280 SAT score. “Kansas State got them a good one and is going be a difference maker for them on and off the field.”
Despite the announcement from Brendan Mott that he would return in 2024, the Wildcats need for depth at defensive end remained with Khalid Duke and Nate Matlack both moving on, likely Cody Stufflebean as well. Bates provides that in the form of an experienced talent for Buddy Wyatt to utilize. The new pledge is expected to compete with the likes of Chiddi Obiazor and others for a spot opposite of Mott next season. Once again, Bates has three seasons of eligibility to exhaust for Chris Klieman’s squad.
