Garret Cates

Position:
Long Snapper
Height:
6-2
Weight:
220
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Lutz, Fla.
Prev School:
Charleston Southern
High School:
Steinbrenner HS

2025 Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award Watch List
2025 CSC Academic All-District
2024 CSC Academic All-District

Long snapper that transferred to USF in the spring of 2024 after three seasons at Charleston Southern, including the last two as the team’s primary long snapper.

2025: CSC Academic All-District team...served as long snapper in all 13 games...kickers went 18-of-24 (75.0%) on field goals and 59-60 on PAT.

2024: Named to the 2024 CSC Academic All-District team...played in all 13 games on the season serving as the long snapper...USF kickers went 13-of-19 on field goals (4-7 over 40 yards) and 49-of-50 on PAT attempts...part of unit that hit game tying 41-yard field goal with two seconds to play in the Hawai'i Bowl as well as a 36-yarder in the second overtime to tie the score and extend the game to an eventual 41-39 USF victory in five overtimes.

2023 (CHARLESTON SOUTHERN): Played in all 11 games…served as the primary long snapper…made four tackles (2 solo).

2022 (CHARLESTON SOUTHERN): Served as the primary long snapper for all games during his redshirt freshman season.

2021 (CHARLESTON SOUTHERN): Redshirted the season...saw action in games against Hampton and Georgia.

STEINBRENNER HS: A three-year starter at Steinbrenner High School playing on the defensive line and as a long snapper...named a captain for the team twice during his career...selected First-Team all-County...helped to lead his team to the 2019 8A State Semifinals.

PERSONAL: Son of Alton and Dana Cates and has one sister, Jordan....majoring in Business with a focus in Entrepreneurship...born in Tampa, Fla...named to the Athletics Honor Roll in the Spring of 2024 and 25 and fall of 2025...named to the 2024 & 2025 CSC Academic All-District teams with a 3.68 GPA...earned his degree in the fall of 2025.