NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Bazie Bates, DB, University of Kansas

 

 

NFL Diamonds has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible player. We hope to bring you more than 350 interviews of NFL Draft Prospects this season. You will be able to track them all on the front page of our website in the banner to the right.  Now let’s meet our next prospect!!!!

What is your name? 

Bazie Bates IV

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’1 196

What is your position? 

Safety

Where do you play college football? 

University of Kansas.

Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field? 

Had an open gym day with special needs kids that don’t get many opportunities to be active.

What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?

College algebra or Philosophy.

Where are you from? 

Allen Texas

Who is your role model, and why? 

My dad, He has taught me how to become a man and has never gone back on his word or done anything hypocritical of the things he has taught me.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Basketball and track.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

Cornerback

At your position, what separates you from others?

My instincts are very high, and when I diagnose a play with complete confidence I come down on the play with full force and not afraid to hit and be physical.

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

I look at formations and see what the different tendencies that the offense does when a receiver is lined up a certain way or if a running back is lined up a different way than he has been before and take notes on what could possibly come my way.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

 Sterling Shepard

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why? 

Eric Reid. My play resembles him because he is very tall and lengthy with very good ball skills and is very physical and has very good run presence in a defense.

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it? 

Making it through Junior College was one of the toughest things I had to face. I had to grow up and focus on my goals and take school serious if I wanted to put myself in the best position to have a chance at going division 1

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

The only ritual I have is a prayer before every game.

What is your biggest strength? 

Physicality.

What is your biggest weakness?

Consistency.

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say? 

I have very good character on and off the field and look to make the right decisions regarding others and myself. I have a hunger for the game of football and eager to learn more and more about the game. I am a physical versatile player who can play all of the defensive back positions such as free safety and strong safety, corner and the nickel and dime position and willing to expand my knowledge of the game. I can also contribute to your team in one of the biggest aspects of the game, which is special teams because I was a four-core starter on the special teams unit, and have great experience with that aspect of the game.

Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up? 

Dallas Cowboys

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose? 

My father, Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr.

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

I would buy my father his dream car.