Furman University

Honors & Awards
2022 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll

2022 — Earned playing time in all 13 games and made two starts at cornerback: vs. Western Carolina (47-40 win) and VMI (41-3 win)...played a pivotal role in Furman’s 10-3 season that featured a stretch a seven consecutive wins and at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where the Paladins claimed at 31-6 first round home win over Elon...10 wins represented the most by Furman since 2005...team finished a consensus 10th in final AFCA and Stats Perform Polls...campaign was fueled with the strong work of Furman’s defense, which led the FCS in turnovers gained (29) and interceptions (18)...helped the Paladins rank first in the SoCon in scoring (20.2 ppg) and red zone defense (71.7 percent, 28x39), and post league best (low) completion percentage defense (58.5)...credited with 35 tackles, six pass breakups, an interception, a sack, and a forced fumble...tallied a career high eight tackles against Western Carolina and had five stops versus Samford...credited with four tackles in FCS playoff contest versus Incarnate Word...registered a sack in a 63-28 triumph over Wofford...had an interception in season opener versus North Greenville (52-0 win).

2021 — Earned starts at cornerback in the first four games before being sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury...contributed seven tackles and a pass breakup in the Paladins’ 29-18, season opening win over 24th-ranked North Carolina A&T...credited with three tackles versus N.C. State and two stops against Tennessee Tech (26-0 win)...awarded redshirt and extra year of eligibility...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll for the 2021-22 school year...

2020 — Registered playing time in all seven games as a backup cornerback...credited with five tackles and a tackle for-loss...had two tackles, including one for-loss against VMI.

High School: 2020 graduate of Roswell (7A) High School...football coach was Matt Kemper...played cornerback... picked Furman from among 16 offers, including FBS members SMU, Air Force, Liberty, and South Alabama...helped lead Roswell to a 8-3 record, Region 4-AAAAAAA championship, and second round playoff appearance in 2019...also ran track. 

Personal: Full name is Ivan Wyatt Yates...born March 3, 2002, in Dallas, Texas...son of Nile and Cory Yates...has a sister, Brooke...father played football at Texas A&M-Commerce...business administration major.