Change of plans; Sanders may
return in 2005

Junior James Sanders declared for early entry into the NFL draft last week but now would like to return to school for the 2005 season

By EDDIE HUGHES

James Sanders might not be headed to the NFL after all.

The junior strong safety, who declared himself eligible for the NFL draft last week, would now like to return for his senior season, media relations officials said.

Sanders notified Fresno State coach Pat Hill that he had a change of heart, assistant athletic director Steve Weakland said.

To regain his eligibility at Fresno State for his senior season, Sanders must go through an appeals process with the National Collegiate Athletic Association to show that he has not signed with an agent.

According to NCAA bylaw 12.3.1, a student-athlete is “ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent.”

Sanders said he never signed with an agent, media relations officials said.

The redshirt junior is enrolled in school and is working out with the Fresno State team, Weakland said.

Sanders is “very close” to finishing his degree, Hill said in a news release last week.

Neither Sanders nor Hill, who is out of town on a recruiting trip, were available for comment on Tuesday.

Sanders, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound Porterville native, started in each of his first three seasons with the Bulldogs. He earned freshman All-America honors in 2002 and was first-team All-Western Athletic Conference the past two seasons.

In his college career, Sanders has 238 tackles, 24.5 for losses, seven sacks and seven interceptions. He was third on the team with 63 tackles in 2004 and also had 6.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and three interceptions.

If Sanders is able to return for his senior season, the Bulldogs will have returning starters at every position in the secondary.