Michael Cates brings size, special-teams grit, and a playmaker’s flash to FAU’s secondary
Michael Cates is a 6-foot-2 safety from Key West who has already shown he can contribute in multiple ways for Florida Atlantic, including special teams work, two tackles, and a forced fumble in the 2024 season win at Tulsa[2]. His game stands out for length, toughness, and hustle more than eye-popping volume, which makes him the kind of defender coaches like for depth, coverage flexibility, and physicality. If you want a safety who can help on special teams and grow into a versatile back-end piece, Cates looks like a sensible fit with upside[2][3].
