Lake City’s Sanders picks Miami over UCLA

Billy Sanders did an about-face Wednesday morning.

A little more than a week after the Lake City tight end/defensive end had given UCLA an oral commitment, Sanders signed with the University of Miami – the school he initially committed to a year ago.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Sanders, who took an official visit to Miami over the weekend, changed his mind when he determined what each school’s intentions for him were. UCLA planned to use him at defensive end while Miami projected him at tight end.

Tight end is the position Sanders wants to play.

“They told me I could have my high school number (88) and I would play right away,” Sanders said.

Sanders was on the phone with UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel at midnight Tuesday listening to a final recruiting plea. He told Neuheisel he was headed to bed and would make a final decision when he awoke.

According to Miami’s Web site, Sanders signed at 6:45 a.m. Eastern time.

Sanders was named to the Tacoma News Tribune’s “Northwest Nuggets” list. He was rated fourth best out of 22.

He caught 23 passes for 204 yards and five touchdowns. He played at Brophy Prep in Phoenix before transferring to LC last summer.

Another Lake City player, linebacker Jared Heston (6-1, 220), signed with Idaho.

Heston, a two-way starter, led LC in tackles with 85 and had eight quarterback hurries.

Locally in Washington, Ferris slot receiver and defensive back Aaron Roberts signed his football letter of intent with the University of Montana, one of the four Greater Spokane League players continuing his career with a Division I program.

Roberts (5-10, 165), a three-year regular with the Saxons, had 78 receptions for 1,248 yards and 10 touchdowns as a receiver, putting him among to top 11 in each category for his GSL career. He is sixth for catches and seventh for yards. Including playoffs, Roberts caught 131 passes for 1,988 yards and 15 TDs.

Joining him in the Big Sky Conference will be Shadle Park’s Bo Schuetzle (5-11, 195), who signed with Eastern Washington University to play defense. He was also the Highlanders’ leading receiver and fourth-leading rusher last year.

Travis Long (6-5, 240) from Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark sack specialist Chris Mastin (6-1, 204), both defensive ends, have signed with Washington State.