2018 – Freshman

• Redshirt season

High School

• One of the nation’s top-20 tight ends by Rivals
• Noted for his receiving ability, a difficult skill to find among tight ends in the high school ranks
• Caught 17 passes for 305 yards with 11 touchdowns as a senior at Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati
• Totaled 250 yards receiving on 14 catches with five scores as a junior
• Two-time first-team All-Greater Catholic League selection
• Accepted an invitation to the 2018 Team USA Under-19 National Team for International Bowl IX
• Coached by John Rodenberg
• Also three-year letter winner in track in the 200-meters and discus throw and was a power forward/center for two seasons on the basketball team
• Was a member of the Improv Club
• Received offers from the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference, including schools such as Vanderbilt, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, West Virginia, Louisville and Pittsburgh

Personal

• Born in Cincinnati Ohio
• Son of Doug and Kelly Bates
• Comes from a family of athletes as father played football at Indiana, mother played volleyball at Morehead State, brother, Doug, is currently a tight end at Cincinnati, and grandfather, Gene Neff, played basketball at Kentucky under Coach Adolph Rupp from 1951-52
• Major is marketing

Brenden Says

• His nickname is “Batesy Boy”
• Other than playing in the NFL, his dream job is to be a fireman
• The most influential person in his life is his father because he made him into the person he is today
• His favorite quote he likes to live by is “it’s not how hard you get hit, but it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”
• He is really good at doing the worm