Football / Recruiting -- Sizemore Commits To Washington -- Cascade Star Wants To Play Baseball, Football

The news was quiet, which is typical for Cascade senior Grady Sizemore.

On Sunday, he told the University of Washington he would accept a football scholarship. Yesterday, Cascade Coach Rollie Wilson heard the news from Sizemore's mother.

"I saw her first so she's the one that told me," Wilson said.

Sizemore was at basketball practice when his coach found out. Sizemore, who set Cascade records for rushing and interceptions, is the 13th player to orally commit to play football for Washington. He just didn't make a big deal about the decision.

"Grady is a very low-key, very quiet, very mature young man," Wilson said. "You've got to go talk to him if you want to know what's going on with him."

Sizemore visited Washington this weekend and told coaches he would attend the school. He visited Arizona State and talked with Washington State. He will not make recruiting visits he scheduled for Clemson and UC-Berkeley.

Sizemore is a three-sport athlete at Cascade (Everett), which plays in WesCo 4A. He starts at point guard and is a center fielder and pitcher on the baseball team. In football, he was a first-team WesCo 4A selection as both a running back and defensive back.

His father, also named Grady, said his son will play baseball at Washington.

"Part of the deal was that he will play baseball and football," Sizemore's father said. "Coach (Rick) Neuheisel and Coach (Ken) Knutson will work out a schedule."

What still needs to be worked out is what position Sizemore will play on the football field. As a running back, he gained 1,199 yards this season, which brought his career total to 3,081. As a defensive back, he intercepted 16 passes. Both marks are school records.

"It's kind of going to be what Grady wants to do," Wilson said of Sizemore's position.

The most intriguing possibility is quarterback. Sizemore's father said the two positions Washington coaches have discussed most are safety and quarterback. Marques Tuiasosopo was Sizemore's host for his recruiting visit, and Sizemore also met with Washington's quarterback coach.

As a senior, Sizemore played cornerback, defensive back, wide receiver, quarterback and running back.

Sizemore is left-handed, and at 6 feet 2, 195 pounds he is still growing into his big-shouldered frame. He is young for his grade as he turned 17 at the end of August.

Terry Ennis, former Cascade coach, raved about Sizemore's almost intuitive sense of where the ball will be. As a senior, Sizemore intercepted eight passes and recovered five fumbles.

Sizemore's career at Cascade started quietly when he began playing varsity as a sophomore. He was considered a tremendous all-around athlete but not tabbed as a can't-miss star.

"The freshman coaches . . . spoke highly of Grady, but he wasn't a dominant player at that level," Ennis said. "I liked the way he ran and cut back, but it wasn't clear that he was going to be a great running back."

Sizemore was quiet in practice, intent upon the lessons of his coaches. Two years later, it has paid off.

"He has improved very dramatically every season," Ennis said. "He has just gotten better and better, and I think he's going to continue to do that."

UW commitments

Aaron Butler, Lakewood (Lakes), DT, 6-2, 280; Dan Dicks, Bellevue, OL, 6-6, 285; Tim Galloway, Auburn, LB, 6-2, 220; Terry Johnson, Tempe, Ariz. (McClintock), DE, 6-5, 245; Matt Lingley, Puyallup (Rogers), LB, 6-3, 205; Larry Miles, San Diego (Crawford), WR, 6-1, 185; Jimmy Newell, Port Orchard (South Kitsap), DB, 6-1, 175; Andre Reeves, Tacoma (Wilson), DL, 6-5, 320; Justin Robbins, Lacey (River Ridge), WR, 5-11, 174; Grady Sizemore, Everett (Cascade), RB-DB, 6-2, 200; Sean Sweat, Oceanside, Calif. (El Camino), RB, 5-9, 180; Zach Tuiasosopo, Woodinville, LB, 6-3, 215; Albert Tuipulotu, San Mateo, Calif., RB, 6-1, 245.