Bates a big hit at linebacker

By Charles Bennett
AUBURN – At 5-11, 210 pounds, Auburn’s Daren Bates figures he’s a bit undersized at outside linebacker.
Barring a late growth spurt, there’s nothing he can do about his height, but he’s doing all he can to bulk up – eating four meals a day, chugging multiple containers of “Muscle Milk” and drinking smoothies at every opportunity.
“Sometimes coach (Ted) Roof has us over for steaks,” said Bates, who would like to add approximately 10 pounds. “I try to eat at least three.”
But when you’re a human buzz saw like Bates, calories seem to come off faster than he can put them on.
“It is hard, just because of all you put into practice,” he said, “and then just walking to class and classes being so spread out on a big campus. It’s tough.”
Regardless of weight, Bates has proven his worth.

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