Joseph Scates (born February 19, 2000) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...

who is a free agent. He previously played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Iowa State Cyclones The Iowa State Cyclones are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Iowa State University, located in Ames. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams (6 men's and 1 ...

and for the

Memphis Tigers The Memphis Tigers are the athletic teams that represent the University of Memphis, located in Memphis, Tennessee. The teams compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the American Athletic C ...

Early life and high school

Scates attended high school at

Dunbar Dunbar () is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately east of Edinburgh and from the Anglo–Scottish border, English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and ...

. In Scates' junior season, he hauled in 37 passes for 966 yards and 20 touchdowns. Coming out of high school, Scates was rated as a four star recruit, where he decided to commit to play

for the

College career

Iowa State

In Scates' first two seasons in 2019 and 2020, he totaled eight receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns. During the 2021 season, Scates hauled in eight receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. After the conclusion of the 2021 season, Scates decided to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

Memphis

Scates decided to transfer to play for the

. In week two of the 2022 season, Scates recorded a catch for a 79 yard touchdown in a win over

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

. Scates finished the 2022 season bringing in 18 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with Memphis. In week eleven of the 2023 season, Scates caught the game winning touchdown versus

South Florida South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...

. In Scates final collegiate season in 2023 he played in 12 games hauling in 33 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns.

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Scates signed with the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

on April 30, 2024. He was waived on August 25.

Memphis Showboats

On December 6, 2024, Scates signed with the

Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were an American football franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Perhaps the ...

of the United Football League (UFL). He was released on March 20, 2025.

BC Lions

On April 15, 2025, Scates signed with the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He was released on May 11, 2025.

References

External links

Iowa State Cyclones bio

Memphis Tigers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scates, Joseph Living people 2000 births American football wide receivers Iowa State Cyclones football players Memphis Tigers football players Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio Jacksonville Jaguars players