Interview: 3-Star 2021 Arizona ATH Commit Cole Batson Updates Summer Workouts
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Teams taking on San Clemente High School during the 2019 season had to game plan for Cole Batson. The 6-4, 195-pound, athlete was highly productive playing a hybrid rover role as an outside backer/safety coming up with 91 stops, 60 solo, two tackles for a loss, a quarterback hurry, six pass breakups, and two picks with one returned for a score. On offense, Batson turned 26 receptions into 249 yards with four touchdowns. When the 2020 California high school football season begins, teams will once again have to scheme against the Tritons three-star recruit, with a chip on his shoulder after last season’s playoff run and without worrying about recruiting being an Arizona Wildcat commit (6-14-20).
In an update interview, Batson slows down for a spell catching us up on his workouts with an update on his continuing relationship with the Arizona coaching staff.
*Click the link for the March 24 RNG interview with Cole Batson
Interview
Cole, when we last spoke you were putting in a lot of work with your skills on defense. You are that versatile player who can seemingly line up everywhere except in the interior of the line. What all have you been working on this spring and summer?
The same things as last year to be that versatile player on defense. I am trying to maintain the versatility with agility, balance, footspeed, and good hands to fight off blocks and press receivers.
What are all the various spots you will play on defense during your senior season?
Strong safety for our defense, that is hybrid between free safety and outside linebacker. I will drop in deep coverages and playing in the box. I am trying to convince my defensive coordinator to blitz me off the edge on some plays. That would be fun. In some of our nickel packages I will play corner going against their No. 1 receiver.
Where are you seeing the improvements in your game with the work put in this offseason?
Definitely my 7v7 and man coverage skills have gotten better. Throughout this extended offseason I have done a lot of 7v7 work against great competition. I’ve been going against guys that are faster, but keeping up with them and dominating them.
Nice. You are an impact player on offense as well. How are those workouts coming along?
Those are going great. I have been working on my releases in 7v7 and doing one-on-ones in some camps working against very talent defensive backs. In those opportunities, I have been working on my releases against them and going up against them. I am playing against better competition which has made me better. This offseason I am also working on footspeed and speed training on my own as well.
Good transition to my next question. What has been your workout routine over the last couple of months?
I work with a DB guy three times a week, I do speed training one my own and with one of my coaches three times a week, and I lift four times a week. Usually, I have two workouts a day but they are a mix of explosive training with my lifting. I don’t want the body builder body, but to be more lean, explosive and fast.
Have you had a chance to post a 40-yard dash this summer?
I ran a 4.64 at Winners Circle Athletics. Hand-timed, I ran a 4.59, but nothing official for 4.5 yet.
After we spoke in late March, your recruiting took off to another level. How many total offers have you received?
Nineteen.
Batson’s Offer Sheet: Arizona, Air Force, Boston College, Colorado State, Cornell, Dartmouth, Fresno State, Harvard, Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Princeton, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Washington State, and Yale
On June 14 you verbally committed to Arizona. At which position did the Wildcats staff offer you?
It was for outside linebacker and strong safety; that hybrid linebacker and safety position, and as a Nickelback.
How did that relationship turn from mutual interest to offer and then a commitment?
We built a good relationship. Arizona is close to home and the weather is nice. It remains me of home of nine of the 12 months, the other three months are hot. I love what the program is about, their facilities are ridiculous, and I like the players. Before I committed, I spoke with their middle linebacker from Mission Viejo (Colin Schooler) about the program. Arizona is a good fit with good academics and a big alumni base, which is very good for me trying to network for a job down the road.
Since your commitment, how have you and their staff worked to continue that bond?
They check in once or twice a week by text and hop on the phone. I like hearing what they are doing with the program and their next steps. They tell me about how they are getting the guys ready for the season with COVID-19. We talk football and about stuff going on with me. I send them pics of what I am doing and about what is going on in San Clemente.
Are you helping recruiting others?
They offered one of the players on our team, but he took too long to respond. By the time he responded the spot closed up. They haven’t asked me to help a lot recruiting other kids, other than keep putting a good word out there.
With the 2020 season pushed back in California, are you planning on being an early enrollee?
No, I want to play this season. I want to play with my boys because I grew up with these kids. We grew up playing ball since we were five, to miss out on my senior year, I would not want to do that. I will go to college for summer camp and report then.
What goals have you set for your senior season on the field?
That is honestly something I have not thought of on a personal level. As a team, my goals are to win it all. We are coming for state. Last year we were disqualified from the CIF playoffs before playing Chaminade; that lit a fire in us. We are getting our team together for player run practices, all player ran, no coaches involved. To see that leadership on our team, that shows me we are working toward the same goal. We are working towards state.
Cole, always great catching up with you. I appreciate your time and wish you and the team continued success this offseason preparing for the 2020 schedule.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Batson family; Cole Batson Arizona commitment pic