Excited to be a Cane

Billy Sanders landed a scholarship offer from Miami last week and committed to the Canes yesterday. We caught up with the talented junior to get more information on who he is, what he brings to the table, details of his commitment to Miami, and much more.

Billy Sanders landed an offer from Miami last week and committed a few days later. He talked, in detail, about getting the offer.

"I've been real interested in them for about a year now," Sanders said. "I was always interested in them and we were on vacation out there about a year ago. I decided to stop by the school just to check it out. I met the tight ends coach and really liked the area and the facilities. I couldn't believe all the tradition -- just looking at everything on the walls of at their football facility. I kinda got to know the area a little bit and things like that. I left there thinking how great it would be to someday have a chance to play there."

Sanders, who wasn't being recruited by Miami before that, was coming off his sophomore season. He played on both sides of the ball that year but hadn't cracked the starting lineup.

"I was second string but we had some real good players on the team," he said. "I played some at tight end but was mainly a blocker. On defense, I was playing third and long situations because the coaches liked my speed to rush the passer."

Sanders then went on to have an excellent junior season, in which he put his name on the recruiting map.

"I played the spring game at tight end and had four catches and a touchdown and then I had three catches in our first game of the season," he said. "But then we had some injuries on defense and they needed someone to switch over so they decided to move me. It was a good decision because I ended up with about 70-some tackles and eight and a half sacks. If I stayed at tight end, I probably would have done well there, too. We won the state championship."

Sanders, now 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, decided to send his game tape to a few schools, including the one he liked the most -- Miami.

"They saw it and must have liked it because they started recruiting me," he said. "I talked to Coach Hurtt and my primary recruiter, Coach Pannunzio. They offered me last week and since that's where I wanted to go I went ahead and took the offer and committed. That's definitely where I'm going."

Sanders, who played baseball as a freshman and was also in the school choir for awhile, said he's not sure what position the Hurricanes want him to play.

"They haven't really said," he said. "I talked to both the tight end and defensive line coach. I've also taken long-snapping courses and have gotten pretty good at that, too. I'm an all-around athlete."

The talented junior believes he brings a lot to the table as a prospect.

"I hustle to the ball and my motor is always running," he said. "I'm physical the way I play -- whether it's blocking or playing defense. I beat up the guy in front of me every play and I never stop going 100-percent."

Sanders, who said Washington and Nevada were on the verge of offering him, is excited to be part of what he believes will be a great class for the Hurricanes.

"I know they have commitments from Bryce Brown and A.J. Highsmith," he said. "They both look like great players and that was a big part of my decision as well, being able to play with guys like that. I think we're going to have a great class."

Sanders, who carries a 2.5 GPA and has not yet taken the SAT, said he plans on taking a return visit to Miami later this year.

"I'm not sure if we'll go over the summer or if we'll just wait for the official visit," he said. "I know I'm very excited about being a Hurricane."