Aaron Gates

Collegiate Honors/Awards Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List (2025) 2025: Appeared in four games this season and posted seven tackles before having a season-ending injury. vs. LIU: Appeared at the STAR position in the season opener and recorded a solo tackle. vs. USF: Recorded 33 snaps at defense and logged a season high three tackles at No. 3 LSU: Logged three tackles playing 21 snaps on defense and five snaps on special teams at No. 4 Miami: Played seven snaps on defense before leaving the game due to injury. 2024: Played in nine games with five starts at the STAR spot… Finished fifth on the team in tackles-for-loss (4.0)... Logged 27 tackles (14 solo), an interception, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a quarterback hurry. vs. No. 19 Miami: Appeared in the season opener at the STAR position. vs. Samford: Made his first career start at the STAR spot. Finished with two tackles (one solo), a pass breakup and a fumble recovery on the opening drive. vs. Texas A&M: Had two tackles with a solo tackle-for-loss of -2 yards and a stop (0 yards gained) on a pass. vs. UCF: Picked up back-to-back games with a tackle-for-loss. at No. 8 Tennessee: Recorded a solo tackle, receiving action on both defense and special teams. vs. Kentucky: Had four tackles (one solo) with a solo tackle-for-loss of -4 yards with a pass breakup. vs. No. 2 Georgia: In his third start this season had four tackles (three solo), first career interception, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup on 3rd down. After his tackle-for-loss, a play later he had an interception with a 30-yard return and also held UGA to a 1-yard punt return. at No. 5 Texas: Team leader with a career-high eight tackles (three solo) with a fumble recovery in second straight start at STAR. Also lined up at safety and corner during the game while playing a team-high 66 snaps. vs. No. 21 LSU: Made four tackles in third straight start and had a stop on 3rd & 2, holding a pass to 0-yards and forcing a punt, which eventually led to a Gators touchdown. vs. No. 9 Ole Miss: Left the game with an injury on the second play of the game. Finished with one tackle. 2023: Played in four games on special teams and redshirted… Made his collegiate debut at South Carolina (Oct. 14) on special teams, stopped a two-point conversion, and intercepted a lateral on the game's final play to secure the victory. High School Ranked a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and On3 Consensus… Ranked nationally as the No. 12 player in his position group by ESPN… Listed as the No. 187 overall recruit by ESPN… First commitment of the Florida 2023 Class… Appeared in nine games with Trinity Christian in 2022, recording 32 tackles (18 solo) and an interception… Signed with Florida over Florida State, Kentucky LSU, Miami and Michigan, among others