Bates confirms pledge

It is becoming apparent that Oregon State had one of its best recruiting hauls in recent history. The good news keeps getting better as Rivals.com confirms the commits we announced yesterday. The latest we have been able to verify is hard-hitting linebacker Wallace Bates (6-1, 212, 4.57) from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft.

Bates hands down wins the award awesome hit award. For those of you in the dark. Bates hit an archrival Lake Balboa (Calif.) Birmingham player into another time zone. The twilight time zone.

Bates lowered the boom on this kid and the poor unsuspecting saw his helmet fly off in one direction, his mouth piece in another while his body went flying in another direction.

Landing Bates brings Oregon State a lot of versatility. He could end up playing linebacker or safety for the Beavers.

“I really like the program,” Bates said. “The Beavers know what it takes to win on the defensive side of the ball.”

“Coach (Mike) Riley is a great man and a great coach,” Bates said. “He said he will take care of me at Oregon State.”

“Coach Riley comes off as a friend first then a coach,” Bates said. “That doesn’t mean Coach Riley isn’t also about winning.”

“I also like defensive coordinator Mark Banker,” Bates said. “He is a really spunky guy who tells you like it is no matter who you are.”

“Oregon State is going to play me at both safety and linebacker,” Bates said. “I would like to play safety, but if the coaches want me to play linebacker, I will. I want to do what is best for the team.”

“I know I can be successful as a linebacker,” Bates said. “But I think I could be an All-American at safety.”

“I know Oregon State has sent a lot of players to the league,” Bates said. “I’m not going to worry about that. I’m just going to take one day at a time and enjoy my college career.”

Another thing that Oregon State had in its favor was freshman team All-American cornerback Brandon Browner.

“Brandon Browner use to be my neighbor in Sylmar back in the day,” Bates said. “Brandon was the one who the Oregon State coaches about me.”

“I think I made the best decision for me when I chose Oregon State,” Bates said. “I had offers from Washington State and Arizona State.”

“I liked Washington State a lot but I felt more at home in Corvallis,” Bates said. “I like the community. It is the type of place that will allow me to concentrate on the important things likes school and ball.”

“I may visit still visit ASU,” Bates said. “Just to check it out.”

“We (Oregon State) had real nice haul this weekend,” Bates said. “We received two outstanding offensive lineman, another solid linebacker and great running back in Patrick Fuller.”