Tight End Brenden Bates Returning for Sixth Season at Kentucky

Kentucky will welcome the veteran back to an even deeper tight end room in 2023.

Another Kentucky veteran is revving up for a final season in blue and white. 

Tight end Brenden Bates announced on Thursday that he is returning for his sixth and final season as a Wildcat: 

#BBN #year6 #oldman pic.twitter.com/E78grJ9U5v

— Brenden Bates (@BatesBrenden) January 5, 2023

Coming out of Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Bates was a 3-star prospect in the class of 2018. After biding his time and battling through injury, he eventually became an important part to the UK offense. 

After playing two games and redshirting in his first year, he would see special teams action in 13 games in 2019. His first collegiate catch would come in 2020 against Mississippi State. Bates played in just six games that season, missing five due to injury.

He would break out as a junior the following year, catching 11 balls for 70 yards, including his first of two career touchdowns, a 4-yard reception in the season-opener against UL Monroe. Bates sat behind Justin Rigg as the main tight end, though he made six starts. Now the veteran of the room in 2022, he would catch 10 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, though he again had to battle through injury. 

Bates would miss the Governor's Cup against Louisville and the Music City Bowl against Iowa, announcing that he had played the entire year with a torn labrum, which he suffered in fall camp: 

Hey BBN , been hearing a lot of questions and want to give y’all an update. Fall camp I tore my labrum. I played till I couldn’t and got surgery December 9th. Surgery went great and I’m currently 2weeks post OP. I will be at the bowl game supporting my team. #BBN pic.twitter.com/eFj5zz9oOF

— Brenden Bates (@BatesBrenden) December 26, 2022

"Battling this shoulder injury caused me to miss precious games which never sat right with me," Bates wrote in his announcement. "I have unfinished goals that I want to maintain for myself and for this team."

The return of Bates is a welcomed one to a deep tight end room, which featured a pair of breakout freshmen in Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus. Kentucky is also bringing in two TEs in the 2023 class — 3-star's Khamari Anderson and Tanner Lemaster.

Bates is the second Wildcat to announce his return for a super senior season, joining offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey.

Kentucky's Early Signing Period tracker can be found here.

Kentucky's transfer portal tracker can be found here.

Read what Mark Stoops said about new QB Devin Leary here.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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