Three-Star Defensive Lineman Cavin Bates Visits Clemson
The Cleburne County recruit toured Clemson's campus during the Tigers' home game against Virginia Tech.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Football
Three-star defensive tackle Cavin Bates visited Clemson for the team's matchup against Virginia Tech. The recruit holds a scholarship offer from the program after working out at a summer camp in 2026.
Why it matters
Clemson is actively recruiting the defensive lineman, who is the nephew of Oklahoma assistant Todd Bates. He is currently evaluating his options as he holds several scholarship offers from across the country.
Cavin Bates stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 275 pounds, having recorded 13 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hurries through nine games this season. He is a three-star prospect who currently holds offers from Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and NC State.
The players
Cavin Bates
He is a three-star defensive tackle recruit who attends Cleburne County.
Todd Bates
He is an assistant coach at Oklahoma and the uncle of recruit Cavin Bates.
The details
Bates traveled to Clemson to experience the game atmosphere during the Tigers' 20-16 loss to Virginia Tech. This visit followed his previous appearance at a Clemson high school camp held during the summer of 2026.
Timeline
Bates participated in a Clemson camp during the summer of 2026.
Bates visited Clemson for the game on October 24-25, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Securing a commitment from a talent like Bates would bolster Clemson's defensive depth chart for upcoming seasons. The program continues to leverage game-day visits as a primary tool to maintain competitive balance within the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bates' recruitment status is a key indicator for Clemson's defensive line depth in the 2026 class. His decision will eventually impact the program's ability to maintain high pressure metrics like his current 25 quarterback hurries at the collegiate level.
The takeaway
Recruits often use game-day visits to evaluate the long-term coaching environment and culture of a program. Interested observers should monitor whether the prospect narrows his list of schools following his recent campus trip.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the roster, visit Clemson Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Clemson Insider.
