RB Zeke Bates commits!

[btowngopher]

Gophers land first RB commitment in 2026 recruiting class

Ezekiel Bates is the first high school commitment for new RBs coach Jayden Everett.

www.si.com

Sounds like he had his junior year cut short by injury, could be keeping him under the radar a bit. Looks like he does everything you’d want a rb to do pretty well.

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Per STrib:

Programs offering him scholarships included Power Four conference members Boston College, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, along with Mid-American Conference schools Akron, Buffalo, Kent State and Toledo.

Bates rushed 83 times for 461 yards and caught seven passes for 78 yards while scoring eight touchdowns as a junior in 2024. He is the ninth player to commit to Minnesota’s 2026 recruiting class.

Gophers land commitment from Ezekiel Bates, a running back from Pennsylvania

Boston College, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest were among teams pursuing running back Ezekiel Bates before he committed to the Gophers.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[pharmacygopher]

Gophers land first RB commitment in 2026 recruiting class

Ezekiel Bates is the first high school commitment for new RBs coach Jayden Everett.

www.si.com

Sounds like he had his junior year cut short by injury, could be keeping him under the radar a bit. Looks like he does everything you’d want a rb to do pretty well.

Sounds like Shane Marshall last year. Hopefully this one sticks! PJ is good at finding overlooked talent before others

 

[fmlizard]

Go Gophers!!

It's wild that we're openly signing paid contracts with players now and yet there's still the wink-wink-nod-nod rule with coaches and acknowledging commitments.

Batman has moved all the way from ROW18 to ROW26. If this keeps up we'll be in the upper deck soon.

 

[touchdownvikings]

Just viewed his Junior year highlights on Hudl.

Seems like a PJ-style RB. One cut and go. Never saw him take an arcing, retreating path to get to an edge. Just seek-your-crease and go.

I think there's much he needs to work on, including his physical tools. But his innate sense of how to run is there already. Good addition to the team.

 

[Gopher_Devil]

From the 26 recruiting thread.


Love taking a shot on a guy like this.

 

[btowngopher]

Just viewed his Junior year highlights on Hudl.

Seems like a PJ-style RB. One cut and go. Never saw him take an arcing, retreating path to get to an edge. Just seek-your-crease and go.

I think there's much he needs to work on, including his physical tools. But his innate sense of how to run is there already. Good addition to the team.

I agree on the physical tools, doesn’t seem to have that 5th gear, and isn’t a beast size wise, but I like his vision and agility and he runs hard. Also displays plus receiving skills. But yeah he seems to fit the Fleck mold. PJ doesn’t seem to worry about speed too much at rb.