Pringle Picked by Sacramento in WLAF Draft

Mike Pringle, Cal State Fullerton’s No. 2 all-time leading rusher, was chosen by the Sacramento Surge Tuesday in the second round of the World League of American Football draft.

“I’m glad Sacramento chose me because I love playing in California,” said Pringle, the 13th overall selection and the first running back selected.

Pringle’s NFL career has been limited to two games with the Falcons. Atlanta released him Aug. 26 in the final cut before the start of the regular season. After being dropped, he returned to his San Fernando Valley home and kept working out. He also had one-day tryouts with several NFL teams, including the Raiders in November and Packers in December.

World League teams had also been in touch with Pringle to see if he was interested in the spring international league. Pringle, 24, said he was, and signed in January.

Pringle rushed for 1,727 yards for the Titans in 1989, including a then-NCAA record-tying 357 against New Mexico State. The Falcons picked Pringle in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL draft.

Pringle led the Falcons in kickoff return yardage and was the team’s second-leading rusher during the exhibition season. But he began the regular season on injured reserve with a rib injury. After spending nine weeks on the practice roster, Pringle was activated with two games remaining.

Sacramento selected another player with Orange County ties on the 10th round--Lance Zeno, a former standout offensive lineman at Fountain Valley High who later went to UCLA and participated in the Cowboys’ 1991 training camp.