Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Talking With 2019 JUCO Tight End Julius Coates
As we reported last week, Pitt is looking at a few JUCO tight ends to possibly bring in for next season.
Leroy Watson from Hutchinson C.C. (Kansas) was one player that Tim Salem made initial contact with last week and another was Julius Coates.
Coates (6-6, 260) currently attends Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
“I started off playing wide receiver in high school but I then moved to tight end,” said Coates. “Coaches like me there and feel I’m able to use my size and speed there to beat linebackers and defensive backs because they feel it’s a big mismatch. Coaches feel I can be a big weapon because of my size and ability to go up and get the ball.”
“A big strength for me is spreading out as a receiver and spreading the field but I also have no problem at all staying in to block.”
Coates tells me that he’ll definitely be moving on from Ellsworth to a Division I school next season and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Courtesy of Julius Coates
His priority right now is for him and his team to finish strong and then after the season is over with, he’ll then really start focusing on the teams currently recruiting him.
Coates doesn’t hold a D-I offer yet but is hearing from Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska and Pitt.
“When I get that first offer it’s going to be great because of all the hard work that’s been put in to this. I would call my mom first to let her know because she knows how hard things have been,” said Coates.
As far as Pitt goes, they let him know what we all know–especially now with the loss of Tyler Sear–that they have a need at tight end.
“Coach said that he saw my film and that he liked the way that I move,” said Coates. “He said they have a need at tight end and that I could possibly be a help for the team.”
Pitt appears to have some serious interest in him because Salem asked Coates about coming up for an official visit. Coates says that could be a possibility after his season is over with.
— Pittsburgh Sports Now (@PghSportsNow) October 15, 2018
