FAYETTEVILLE — One of the biggest surprises for Arkansas football during the early signing period was the addition of a tight end-turned-defensive end from Scooba, Miss., who looks like he might be ready to help right away.
East Mississippi Community College standout Julius Coates (6-6, 270 pounds) could have ended up at Oregon, Colorado or Nebraska - three places he officially visited, but chose to head to Arkansas sight unseen.
He did so after talking to new Arkansas coach Sam Pittman just a few days before the early signing period began and. He made the decision that he wanted to play in the SEC instead of the Big Ten or Pac-12.
“Julius was a late addition for us during the early period,” Pittman said. “He’s a big guy that moves really well, he started his college career as a tight end. We’re planning on him coming in here and making our defensive line better.”
Coates, who will enroll at Arkansas this month and go through spring practice, made 30 tackles with 6 sacks, 9 tackles for lost yardage and 2 forced fumbles, both of which he scooped and returned for touchdowns.
The former Rockfield, Ill., Guilford prep star also added a touchdown reception for East Mississippi, best known for being featured on the first two seasons of Netflix’s "Last Chance U."
It was a great transition from the tight end position he played during high school and his freshman season at Ellensworth Community College in Iowa, and one that EMCC defensive coordinator Cliff Collins thought would be best for his future.
“I saw a big kid that was real athletic and physical and I told Julius when we recruited him that if you want to play at the next level, tight ends are a rare breed and you have to be in the right system to even get to Division I,” Collins said. “But playing defensive end with your size, strength and athletic ability, a lot of of people would be coming after you. I had to convince him and his parents about how quick the adjustment would be if he came over to defense. It worked out really good.”
Collins is a former safety and linebacker at Ole Miss, so he so he knows the SEC.
“He’ll be really good in the SEC,” Collins said. “He is going to have to get better with his technique and fundamentally and he will with experience…He will be a guy that will flash and make some plays.”
Collins expects Coates to show off his speed for Arkansas, where he will have two years of eligibility.
“I’m thinking he runs a 4.75 (40-yard dash) at 275,” Collins said. “He has top-end speed. He would have great numbers at a combine, but most importantly he can run down people on the football field.”
Coates visited Colorado in October and committed, but decided to reopen his recruiting when Oregon and Nebraska came calling.
He visited Oregon and Nebraska, but felt the urge to come to Arkansas when Pittman called him the weekend of Dec. 13-15.
“He’s where he wants to be and I think Arkansas is going to love what he gets done for them because he is just going to keep getting better and better with experience,” Collins said.