Bates was a three-star recruit and two-time first-team all-state pick from Fort Wayne Indiana. He redshirted his first year at Wake to add strength, and then made a big impact in 2016. Bates was a consensus Freshman All-American and the ACC media's runner-up conference defensive rookie of the year behind Clemson's Dexter Lawrence. He made 100 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and finished among national leaders with five interceptions -- returning two for touchdowns. Bates was an honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2017, posting 79 stops, six for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. He started 11 games for the season, missing two with an injury. Despite playing just two years with the Demon Deacons, Bates decided to declare for early entry in the 2018 NFL Draft.

2017 — Publicly announced he was declaring for the NFL Draft on Jan. 5, 2018 . . . Invited to the NFL Combine . . . Honorable mention All-ACC . . . Third team preseason All- ACC by Lindy’s Sports . . . Was 16th in the ACC in tackles per game with 7.2 . . . Started 10 games and finished fourth on the team with 79 tackles . . . Third on the team with five pass break-ups . . . Led the team in tackles against Florida State, Boston College and Appalachian State . . . Had a 59- yard punt return for a touchdown in the Belk Bowl . . . Added seven tackles and a half tackle for loss vs. Texas A&M . . . It was the first PR for a touchdown in Wake Forest bowl history

. . . Had seven tackles vs. Duke (11/25) . . . Had eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in win over Louisville (10/28) . . . Suffered a sprained knee vs. UofL that would keep him out of Notre Dame and Syracuse games . . . Returned to limited action vs. NC State (11/18) . . . Had an assisted tackle and a nine-yard punt return vs. the Wolfpack . . . Second on the team with seven tackles at Georgia Tech (10/21) . . . Added two tackles for loss vs. the Yellow Jackets . . . Team leader with 14 tackles against Florida State (9/30) to go with 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of pass break-ups . . . Tied for the team-high with nine tackles against Appalachian State (9/23) . . . Had a 75-yard punt return to the Utah State 3-yard line which led to a Deacon touchdown (9/16) . . . Led the team with nine tackles against Boston College (9/9) . . . Had a 37-yard interception return to set-up a 2-yard Cade Carney touchdown run vs. the Eagles . . . Five tackles and a forced fumble in season-opening win over Presbyterian (8/31) . . . Finished career with 179 tackles and six interceptions for 195 yards . . . Ranks third in school history career intercep- tion return yards.

2016 (Redshirt Freshman)

Had an outstanding redshirt freshman campaign in 2016

... Was a consensus Freshman All-American ... Earned first team Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers the Week as ranking among the nation’s top defensive backs following the IU game ... Led the team with a career-high 15 tackles vs. NC State (10/1) ... Second on the team with eight

Interception of the year vs. the Seminoles ... Had an interception and 25-yard return vs. Army West Point (10/29) ... Intercepted a Virginia pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown and the game-winning score in a 27-20 win over Virginia (11/5)

... Led the team with 13 tackles vs. Louisville (11/12) ... Added a forced fumble vs. the Cardinals and a season-long 29-yard punt return ... Tied for the team tackle lead with 12 vs. Clemson (11/19) . . Tied for the team lead with seven tackles in the Military Bowl victory over Temple ... Had inter- ceptions in three consecutive games (Florida State, Army and Virginia) ... On the field for 993 plays, the most among all returning players in 2017 ... Earned his first varsity letter.

 2015 (True Freshman)

Redshirted.

 High School

Team captain as a senior ... Rated as a 3-star recruit by 247 and ESPN ... A two-time first team all-state selection by the Associated Press in 2013 and 2014 ... Earned first team all- state honors from USA Today in 2014 ... As a senior, record- ed nine interceptions tying the mark of NFL Hall of Famer Rod Woodson ... Recognized as All-Northeast Indiana first team by The Journal Gazette ... Helped lead Snider to a 10-3 record as a senior ... Also played point guard for the Snider basketball team ... Coached in football by Kurt Tippman.

 Personal

Son of Theresa Ladd ... Born Oct. 11, 1996.