Indiana Gets Commitment from JUCO Cornerback

The Indiana Hoosiers have received their first commitment for the class of 2010, and it looks to be off to a great start. The Hoosiers have landed the services of Andre Kates, a cornerback from Erie (NY) Community College.

Kates, a former standout quarterback from Surrattsville H.S. in Clinton, MD, is expected to make an immediate impact at both the corner position and possibly as a returner as well.

"I talked with Coach Palcic (co-defensive coordinator/cornerback coach) earlier and he let me know that they will play the best person and they have a senior cornerback that is leaving so I got a chance to come in and play right away," said Kates, who listed the chance at immediate playing time as one of the major factors in him choosing IU.

"He said nine times out of 10, it's going to be me that is going to play right away. I told him I'm going to try and bring some swagger to the team because sometimes when I would watch Indiana they looked kind of dead a little bit. I'm going to try and bring some swagger to the team. I want to make people want to come to the games."

Formerly a Florida signee, Kates was rejected from the school due to academic reasons. Because of this, he was forced to go the JUCO route. Before enrolling, Kates waited a couple of years because his mother needed help financially.

There is another major factor Kates listed as a reason he  committed to Indiana. This is that he will have a friendly face there to greet him when he arrives.

"I have a close friend that plays on the team, Jerimy Finch. I know Jerimy from back at the University of Florida. And I spoke with him just a few days ago and he was telling me about the program. He said he likes it a lot. I was asking him about academics because that is the reason why I am in junior college right now. He said they help you a whole lot. He said whatever help you need they're right there for you, and I like that."

Kates will graduate in May of next year and enroll at IU in the fall of 2010.