CATCHING UP WITH LOCAL LEGENDS: IZEIAH OATES

Izeiah Oates: From Eastern Wayne Warrior to Winston-Salem State Ram

Neuse News Sports presents Catching Up With Local Legends written by Chris Radford

For Izeiah Oates, football has been more than a sport. It has been a way of life.

The 2026 Eastern Wayne High School graduate grew up in Goldsboro surrounded by athletics. As the youngest of three siblings, Oates spent his childhood in an environment where sports were always part of the conversation—and his father, a longtime football coach and athletic director, played a major role in shaping his athletic journey.

Today, Oates is continuing that journey at Winston-Salem State University, where he is beginning his freshman season as a linebacker.

While the next chapter is taking him away from Wayne County, the lessons he learned as an Eastern Wayne Warrior remain at the center of his story.

Learning From Dad

There are plenty of challenges that come with playing for your father.

For Oates, however, it was an experience he wouldn't trade.

Playing for his dad meant that football didn't necessarily end when practice ended. There were additional conversations at home about plays, mistakes and ways to improve.

“It's amazing,” Oates said. “He's able to have that extra time.”

That additional time could mean going back over the little things or getting extra work in with his coach—who also happened to be his father.

Oates admitted that playing for his dad wasn't always easy.

“He always pushed me to a higher extent,” Oates said.

His father never wanted his players—or his own children—to settle for being average.

Oates said he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

That demanding standard helped prepare him for the expectations of playing football at the next level.

A Sense of Urgency

For the younger players getting ready to enter Eastern Wayne High School, Oates knows exactly what they should expect.

Be ready to move.

Oates described his father's coaching style as one built around a strong sense of urgency and a fast pace.

“Be ready to do everything at a high speed and a fast pace,” he said.

For young players, learning to adjust to that pace can take time. But Oates believes the purpose goes beyond simply playing faster.

His father wants players to learn, improve and build character.

As long as young athletes are willing to put in the work, Oates believes they can become successful players.

From Quarterback to Dual-Threat Playmaker

Oates' own high school career was impressive.

He played quarterback for all four years at Eastern Wayne and finished his career with nearly 8,600 passing yards and 98 touchdown passes.

He also added nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, establishing himself as a legitimate dual-threat quarterback.

But Oates' path to becoming Eastern Wayne's quarterback wasn't necessarily what everyone expected.

Although he had played quarterback for most of his life, he said he didn't truly enjoy the position until high school.

During his freshman season, a transfer at quarterback and an injury at the varsity level created an opportunity for Oates to move up.

His father's advice was simple.

“Just have fun and just do the basic stuff right.”

Oates followed that advice.

The basic things eventually became big plays.

As the years went on, he became one of Eastern Wayne's most productive offensive players.

Eventually, his father encouraged him to use his legs more.

Oates embraced the challenge.

One of the messages that stuck with him throughout his Eastern Wayne career was simple: never let one person take you down.

That mentality helped turn him into an even more dangerous player.

A Two-Way Star

While Oates made his name as a quarterback, his impact wasn't limited to offense.

During his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, he became a two-way contributor and recorded approximately 195 tackles over three seasons.

That defensive production became an important part of his recruiting profile.

When colleges began looking at Oates, the primary position they saw was linebacker.

“There were little talks about me playing offense,” Oates explained, “but it was never anything major. The main thing was coming over to play linebacker.”

That transition ultimately helped open the door to the next chapter of his football career.

Choosing Winston-Salem State

Oates had several opportunities during the recruiting process.

He had an offer from Fayetteville State and received preferred walk-on opportunities from larger Division I programs, including East Carolina University.

Ultimately, however, Winston-Salem State felt like the right place for him.

Oates believed the program provided the environment and opportunities he needed to continue developing as a player.

So far, his decision has been validated.

“I love the way we compete out here,” Oates said.

He even earned a spot on the travel squad for the team's first game in Norfolk.

For a freshman making the transition from high school football to college football, that was an important early accomplishment.

More importantly, Oates feels he is in a good place to continue developing.

“I just feel like I'm in a great spot right now currently to develop to be a good player here,” he said.

Leaving Eastern Wayne With No Regrets—Except One

Oates' high school career included plenty of memorable moments, but there is one game he wishes he could play again: Eastern Wayne's playoff matchup against Reidsville.

The Warriors fell to Reidsville in the third round of the state playoffs last season. Reidsville would eventually go on to win the state championship.

Oates believes Eastern Wayne had what it took to win.

“I definitely feel like we should have won that game,” he said.

He pointed to penalties and special teams mistakes as factors that ultimately hurt the Warriors.

If he could go back and replay one game from his entire high school career, there would be no hesitation.

“Definitely be that game,” Oates said.

More Than Football

Football wasn't Oates' only sport at Eastern Wayne.

He was a four-sport athlete, giving him the opportunity to experience different forms of competition and develop in different ways.

Baseball was one of those sports.

Oates played shortstop, pitcher and third base and enjoyed the game even though it was never his primary sport.

“I always played baseball when I was younger,” he said. “It was never like a main sport, but it was always just something that was a little fun to me.”

That multi-sport background helped make Oates the well-rounded athlete he became.

The Next Chapter

While Oates knows football will remain an important part of his future, he is still deciding exactly where life will take him after college.

His original plan was to study kinesiology and exercise science with the eventual goal of opening a physical therapy practice.

But college has already begun opening his eyes to other possibilities.

For now, he's keeping his options open.

One thing, however, remains certain.

Whatever career path he chooses, Oates wants to find a way to remain connected to football.

Whether that means coaching or becoming an analyst, he hopes to eventually give back to the sport that has given him so much.

And that could even mean returning home.

Could Oates One Day Lead the Warriors?

With his father currently leading Eastern Wayne, the question naturally arises: Could Isaiah Oates one day return to Goldsboro and take over the program?

The possibility has crossed his mind.

“A lot of times,” Oates admitted.

If the opportunity presents itself and the circumstances are right, Oates can see himself returning to Eastern Wayne as a coach.

For a player who spent four years learning the game from his father, it would be a fitting continuation of the family legacy.

Representing New Hope

Perhaps the most important part of Oates' story isn't the statistics, the recruiting offers or even the transition to college football.

It's the people who supported him along the way.

Oates specifically expressed his appreciation for the New Hope community, which he described as a family that has supported him throughout his journey.

“I appreciate all the support and all the love that I have been getting for the past six years,” Oates said. “It's nothing but love.”

Now, as he begins his collegiate career at Winston-Salem State, Oates carries that support with him.

He knows he isn't making the journey alone.

“It's been a family for me since I got out there,” he said.

His message to the New Hope community is simple: keep supporting him, and he hopes to give that love back in the years ahead.

From an Eastern Wayne quarterback who threw for nearly 8,600 yards and 98 touchdowns to a freshman linebacker beginning his collegiate career at Winston-Salem State, Isaiah Oates has already accomplished plenty.

But for this former Warrior, the next chapter is only beginning.