Bear Down Wildcats

73 is an open roster spot and since there are no more new scholarship players who could wear this number, I'll look at coaches.



Yates is the defensive coordinator (and linebackers coach) for the Wildcats after serving in the same position in 2014 and 2015 for Boise State and 2012 and 2013 as the co-defensive coordinator for Texas A&M. His defenses have been ranked highly in forcing turnovers as well as tackles for loss and sacks. The 2015 Boise State defense finished nationally with the 5th best rush defense, 12th total defense and 18th best scoring defense.

Yates is a graduate of Boise State where he was a defensive back from 1996-1999. His first coaching job was with Montana State from 2001-2002 as a secondary coach before moving back to Boise State from 2003-2011. In his first stint at Boise State he coached corners, then the entire secondary, and was also the defensive pass game coordinator before he moved on to Texas A&M.

Off the field, besides being a good bowler, Yates is considered a top recruiter. He is from southern California and in an exit interview from Boise State Yates stated how much he is looking forward to recruiting LA for a PAC-12 school.





73 is the school record for pass attempts in a game set by Anu Solomon against Cal in 2014. As I remember, the final attempt was a completion.




No. 73 All-Purpose Yards Gained, Game: 400, Ka’Deem Carey, vs. Colorado, Nov. 10, 2012 (366 rushing, 34 receiving)

Most exciting get for the coaching staff in quite some time. Looking forward to not having the 114th or 117th ranked defense in Div I.

Obviously we have a lot to work on ... (tackling, recruiting big enough d-linemen to get a push up front, tackling, defensive back positioning, tackling, tackling, and tackling) ... but the difference between our aggressiveness in play calling blitzes is night and day between this year and last.

I can see that once we get Yates' type of recruits how this D can be a disruptive force. Glad we are no longer sitting back in that crappy bend-don't-break mentality we had, watching teams march all over us until our conditioning gave out. Looks like the theme going forward is attack and make things happen. Now just work on actually tackling people all the way to the ground and the D will be something we can win with.

Cats definitely had the confidence going against a second string FCS QB they didn't have against a FBS caliber QB in Kinkade.

Hopefully Yates can keep that confidence going since he doesn't have the horses to compete otherwise.

Pretty sad when a FCS school has bigger faster players than a Power 5 school.

Also Devonte Neal is the best corner you have?