National Football League

Wake Forest DB Bates leaving school early for NFL draft

Published Jan. 5, 2018 3:48 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

AP

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) Wake Forest defensive back Jessie Bates III says he will forego his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

Bates announced his decision Friday on Twitter, saying he has ''envisioned playing in the National Football League my entire life.''

Bates had 77 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble as a redshirt sophomore this season while helping the Demon Deacons (8-5) close the season by winning three of four, including a Belk Bowl victory over Texas A&M last week.

---

(This version corrects that Wake Forest ended the season by winning three of four games.)

---

More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League