Stock Down: Dillon Bates
Most Vol fans weren’t expecting Dillon Bates to come into this fall and suddenly find himself and be a big contributor for his last year with Tennessee. But with a new coaching staff and a truly open competition across the board, maybe he could find his way into some playing time.
But as it sits right now after a week of fall camp, Bates looks relegated to the bench once again.
Maybe Bates can make some contributions on special teams, but he probably won’t see the field on defense unless there are a few injuries at linebacker or the Vols are comfortably ahead in a game in the fourth quarter. He hasn’t looked impressive this fall, and other linebackers are clearly ahead of him.
Bates was once one of the highest-rated prospects in Tennessee’s 2014 signing class. But he’s never been able to live up to that hype, and it doesn’t look like this will be the year he does either.
