Gabe Pruett, PANews.com
Kaleb Sparks has heard his entire life his short stature would put a ceiling on his athletic career. Sparks proved naysayers wrong at Port Neches-Groves and now he will take his talents to Mary-Hardin Baylor.
The senior leaves The Reservation as the statistical leader of any receiver who has ever put on the purple and white PN-G uniforms. He set the single season record for yards in a season with 1,231 and also touchdowns in a year with 15.
“I am so excited,” Sparks said. “I worked my whole life to get here. I can’t give enough credit to everyone I played with and all my coaches. It is an awesome feeling.”
Sparks is now ready to prove himself to be a valuable asset to a team that has won every American Southwest Conference title since 2005. The Crusaders shared the title in 2009.
“My whole life everyone has told me I am undersized and I have fought through that,” Sparks said. “I try to prove size doesn’t matter. For them to give me a chance is an awesome feeling.”
Sparks’ high school coach, Brandon Faircloth, knows the Crusaders certainly signed a player who will be dedicated to achieving success.
“I told them when we first contacted them he is very tough, mentally and physically,” Faircloth said. “He has a big heart and cares. It shows during games how much he prepares. What he has accomplished is not easy to do. He did a great job.
“He is a kid we will talk about for many years around here. He set the bar very high for future receivers. We are ecstatic he was a PN-G Indian.”
Sparks is the second PN-G receiver in as many years to sign a football scholarship. Jeremiah Rose signed with Southeastern last year.
“The facilities in Belton are awesome,” Sparks added. “The coaches were great and I could relate them to our coaches here at PN-G. It was a family atmosphere. The team competes for national championships and I want to get a ring.”
Mary-Hardin Baylor last played for the NCAA DIII title in 2004 when the Crusaders lost to Linfield 28-21. Ever since then, either Mount Union or Wisconsin-Whitewater have won the crown with Whitewater winning six of the 10 championships.
Source: http://www.panews.com/sports/sparks-headed-to-mary-hardin-baylor/article_8ce1389a-acd1-11e4-b03c-377763ba859f.html
