Sparks Needs Surgery on Shoulder

Derek Sparks of Washington State, a former Times Valley back of the year at Montclair Prep, will undergo surgery Monday after suffering a dislocated shoulder during football practice Friday.

Sparks, who rushed for 259 yards in 58 carries as a freshman last year, could miss the entire season, depending on how much damage the shoulder has sustained.

“Sitting out this season is a good possibility, “ said Rod Commons of the WSU sports information office. “(The coaches are) assuming that he won’t be back. Considering that it’s a pretty serious injury and he still has a redshirt season available to him, it would be foolish to bring him back too quickly.”

Sparks rushed for 1,944 yards and scored 35 touchdowns as a Montclair Prep junior in 1989 before transferring to Santa Ana Mater Dei High as a senior.

Leland Sparks, who played wide receiver alongside cousin Derek at Montclair Prep and Mater Dei before coming to Washington State this year, will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery Friday.

Commons said there is a good chance Leland, a freshman, will return to the roster later this season.