Blue White Illustrated

bring exactly that type of impact to the field this fall. Since arriving at Penn State last sum- mer, the 6-foot-4 Bates has gained more than 30 pounds and now fluctuates be- tween 308 and 310. And although a baby face still resides underneath a full beard, above a neck that's being swallowed by his muscular shoulders, Bates has made it quite clear that he intends to make an im- pact on the field this fall. The transformation has truly been a re- markable one for Bates, now entering his second year with the Penn State football program. Responding to questions with abrupt words and a sense of humor that can only be described as dry, he comes across as a confident veteran, even though he's only 19 years old. Acknowledging his physical transfor- mation, Bates cites some recent con- struction in the Lasch Building as a major contributor. "A lot of it was in the weight room. Our new nutrition bar helped a lot," he said, referencing the gleaming addi- tion stocked with seemingly more calo- ries than a Sam's Club. "After every workout, after every lift, I went in there, got a protein shake." Taking his cues from veteran linemen Angelo Mangiro and Andrew Nelson last season, Bates has matured in a way that encompasses more than just physical changes. With the help of his more-expe- rienced teammates, he was able to learn the skills he needed to play elite-level college football. Along the way, he also learned how to play a new position. Growing up in War- rington, Pa., he had been a tackle throughout his career at Archbishop Wood. But when he arrived at Penn State last summer, he was stationed at guard. In the end, he said he was satisfied with how his true freshman year turned out. While head coach James Franklin inti- mated at one point during the season that Bates could potentially get on the field, the staff decided it would be better to preserve his redshirt. Looking back, Bates says he has no doubt that it was the right decision. "I don't think I was ready to play last year," he said. "I was like 290, 295, so I don't think I was physically ready. Being an of- fensive lineman, being up front, it's phys- ically demanding. You have to be so big and everything. So I'm happy they didn't pull my redshirt, because I got that extra couple of months of [behind-the-scenes development]. Like I said, it's physically demanding up front, and I needed to build up physically." While he was busy making the neces- sary physical improvements, Bates was also getting an education as a member of the scout team. Squaring off on a daily basis against four defensive linemen who are all now preparing for their first sea- sons in the NFL – Austin Johnson, An- thony Zettel, Carl Nassib and Tarow Barney – Bates saw his play steadily im- prove, and he finished the season as a member of Penn State's two-deep on the offensive line. "It was a total benefit. It got me better every day," he said. "I gave them a run for their money once or twice. But it was a great learning experience going against those guys." By the time the Nittany Lions faced Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl, Bates said he probably could have played effec- tively. He has no doubt that he's prepared to make a contribution this coming sea- son, and his confidence is echoed by Franklin. "Bates, we feel, has a very high ceiling," the Nittany Lions' third-year head coach said. "People are excited about him." Bates is excited, too. Although he is quick to note that he still needs to im- prove in many facets of the game, from staying lower in the run game to staying more square to the line of scrimmage in pass protection, he is eager to test himself against opposing defensive linemen. Said Bates, "I'm confident in my ability to kick some butt." ■ T he way Matt Limegrover sees it, Penn State and Minnesota weren't all that different last season. Challenged by the same issues as the Nittany Lions – injuries, position changes and opposing defenses that crowded the line of scrimmage – the Gophers averaged 358.9 yards and 22.5 points per game. The Lions averaged 348.4 yards and 23.2 points and, like their Big Ten counterpart, finished near the bottom of the conference in both categories. "You're bringing more guys in there, and what happens is, things get muddy. Whether you're trying to run the ball or protect, there's a lot more that a defense can do when you pack everybody in," Limegrover said. "So now you're forced to kind of be alpha males on a more regular basis." But the Nittany Lions' new offensive line coach sees relief in the system that another recent hire, coordinator Joe Moorhead, brought from Fordham to University Park in the off-season. To illustrate just how different Penn State's new offensive system will be this fall, Limegrover recounted a con- versation with his linemen from the spring. Addressing their responsibili- ties if different defenders crept into the New-look offense seen as boon to Lions' linemen |

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