Leland Sparks Sidelined at Washington St.

Leland Sparks, a former Montclair Prep football player, will miss the fall semester at Washington State because of an injury and academic problems, according to a Washington State assistant coach.

Sparks signed a letter of intent with the Cougars last spring and planned to join his cousin, Derek, in Pullman. Derek Sparks is a running back who was The Times’ Valley back of the year in 1989 when he played at Montclair Prep. He is expected to arrive in Pullman next week.

Washington State will hold a scholarship for Leland, who will have four years of eligibility to complete in five years after he enrolls in January.

Leland, who is projected as a defensive back in college, had his senior season at Mater Dei in Santa Ana cut short by a knee injury and still has yet to recover fully from off-season surgery, according to Jim Zeches, a linebacker coach who recruited the Sparks cousins.

“His knee is still injured,” Zeches said Friday. “We’re going to start him out as a defensive back, but he did a heckuva job catching the ball for Mater Dei last fall. We’ll wait and see what our needs are.”

Zeches would not elaborate on Leland’s academic problems and Sparks was unavailable for comment.

Leland played quarterback at Montclair Prep in 1989 before transferring to Mater Dei with Derek last September. The Southern Section granted Leland a fifth year of eligibility at a September hearing that prompted an investigation of Montclair Prep.

The school admitted to recruiting violations in April, and its athletic department was placed on three years’ probation. The Mounties are barred from postseason play in 1991-92, and the football team is banned from the playoffs for three years but can appeal after two years.