KNOXVILLE—In a televised appearance on ESPNU late Wednesday evening, one of the top linebackers in the nation with a last name Vol/Cowboy fans should remember announced his plans to play for Butch Jones. Dillon Bates, rated as top 100 player by both Rivals (59) and ESPN (92), will follow in his father’s footsteps and play for Tennessee.

Bill Bates made a name for himself as a hard hitting Vol safety in the 80s before going on to win multiple championships with the Dallas Cowboys. The younger Bates is a consensus 4-star prospect and holds offers from over 30 programs nationally; he chose the Vols over Alabama and Florida.

“I’ve always grown up a Tennessee fan with my dad playing there when he was in college,” Dillon Bates said in a report on TNSportsRadio.com. “That’s an opportunity that nobody can pass up lightly. It’s just a great opportunity for me to follow in my dad’s footsteps and go where he’s been.”

A 6-3, 210 pound linebacker from Ponte Vedra, Florida, Dillon has exceptional speed (4.5 40-yard dash) for an athlete of his size. Not surprisingly, he’s regarded as one of the top cover linebackers in the nation; but his game isn’t limited to pass coverage. He is aggressive when pursing a ball carrier and has the size and physicality to provide inside run support.

He’s likely to play outside linebacker for the Vols. At most, Jones and Co. will return four scholarship linebackers next season and adding a player of Bates’ caliber in the 2014 class at the linebacker position should be categorized as a massive success for the Vols.

Tennessee now has 18 commits in the 2014 class; a class that is ranked top 5 nationally by both Rivals and 247Sports.