Pike County is coming off a 29-22 win over Fayette County in Week 2, and one of the standout players was sophomore athlete Keylan Yates. The sophomore had 127 yards rushing on 12 carries for two touchdowns.
The longest play for Yates was a 65-yard touchdown. Yates took the handoff moving left, worked his way back through the middle of the defense, out to the right sideline before bouncing, then spinning off several defenders. Once the dust settled, Yates was the only guy on his feet, so he ran the final 20 yards for a score, giving his team a 22-15 lead over Fayette County.
On Sunday, Yates’ spectacular play was selected as one of Week 2’s top 10 plays. Then, 24 hours later, he was voted the top play of the week, capping off a great first two weeks of the season where he has rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns.
Pike County is off to a 1-1 start, and during this short stretch, Yates is starting to cement himself as one of the spectacular playmakers in the class of ’29. We asked the sophomore how he felt about the start of the season.
“It’s been great; our team has gotten off to a consistent start. We are really working together and are focused on the same goal. I’ve been putting in the work and putting on some weight,” Yates said.
The weight gain was apparent when watching his game film, and Yates did confirm his last weigh-in was around 173 lbs. And while his athleticism has improved over the last year, Yates believes his football IQ has taken the biggest jump.
“My knowledge of the game has grown, my footwork, and my ability to scan the field,” he said.
Right now, Yates has been hearing from a slew of FBS programs like Georgia Tech, Liberty, Georgia Southern, UGA, Alabama, and Florida State. The interest would stoke the ego of most young prospects, but the 2029 athlete was extremely grounded in the early attention. His main focus is the football season and taking it all in stride.
“I want to get better and grow in my skill level and create a bond with my teammates. I need to be patient, continue putting in the work, and know that God will take care of the rest.”
As of now, Yates has only one college visit planned, and that’s to Athens this upcoming Saturday. Beyond that, the 2029 back plans to circle back around with programs that he camped with in June and set up more visits.
Certainly, there will be more recruiting news and highlights to come, so for more information on the standout 2029 athlete, be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X.
