- Darren Sproles
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Darren Sproles 
Sproles during his tenure with the San Diego Chargers.No. 43 New Orleans Saints Running back / Return specialist Personal information Date of birth: June 20, 1983 Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa Height: 5 ft 5.50 in (1.66 m) Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) Career information College: Kansas State NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 4 / Pick: 130 Debuted in 2005 for the San Diego Chargers Career history - San Diego Chargers (2005–2010)
- New Orleans Saints (2011-Present)
Roster status: Active Career highlights and awards - Thomas A. Simone Award (2000)
- 5th in Heisman voting (2003)
- 6th most all-purpose yardage in NCAA history
- Most all-purpose yardage in a playoff game (2009)
- San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
Career NFL statistics as of Week 1, 2011 Rushing Yards 1,161 Rushing Average 4.6 Total Return Yards 7,496 Total Touchdowns 22 Stats at NFL.com Darren Lee Sproles (born June 20, 1983 in Waterloo, Iowa) is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State.
He was named as kick returner for the San Diego Chargers 50 Greatest Chargers team.
Contents
Early years
Sproles attended Rolling Ridge Elementary, then Oregon Trail Junior High, followed by Olathe North High School, all in Olathe, Kansas. He has been conquering a speech impediment he has had since childhood.[1] Sproles was a star in football, earning the name "Tank," after being born at 10 lb (4.5 kg).[2] For two consecutive years, he was an All-Sunflower League honoree, All-Metro honoree, and an All-State selection. Additionally, he was twice named The Kansas City Star Player of the Year. As a senior, he was named the Kansas Hall of Fame Player of the Year and the USA Today Kansas Player of the Year. Throughout his high school career, Sproles rushed for 5,230 yards, averaging nearly 8.4 yards per carry and 79 touchdowns.
He was a High school All-American as selected by Student Sports Magazine. He was also the winner of Thomas A. Simone Trophy, given to the top big-class football player in Kansas City metro area. In 1999, he rushed for 2,031 yards in nine games as a junior.[3] In his senior year of 2000, Sproles rushed for 2,485 yards, scoring 49 touchdowns. He led his Olathe North Eagles to a 12–0 record and their fourth Kansas 6A state title in five years.
College career
Sproles played college football at Kansas State University from 2001 to 2004, starting all games in his last two seasons and setting 23 school records. He finished 11th on the all-time college rushing yards list, with the 6th most all-purpose yards in NCAA history. He led all FBS teams in rushing yards in 2003 with 1,986. He also led Kansas State University to its first Big 12 Conference championship in 2003, a win over # 1 ranked Oklahoma, 35–7. That same year he finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy voting. He graduated with a degree in speech pathology.
Collegiate statistics
Year Team Games Attempts Yards YPA TDs Long 2001 Kansas State 6 28 210 7.5 1 38 2002 Kansas State 13 237 1,465 6.2 17 80 2003 Kansas State 15 306 1,986 6.5 16 73 2004 Kansas State 11 244 1,318 5.4 11 74 Career 45 815 4,979 6.1 45 80 Professional career
San Diego Chargers
Sproles was drafted by the Chargers 130th overall in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
He spent the 2005 season as the third string running back, behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, returning kicks and punts. He then spent the entire 2006 season on injured reserve list after breaking his ankle during the preseason.
2007
On November 11, 2007, in the Chargers' 23-21 upset over the Indianapolis Colts, Sproles made history by returning a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns—the first player in league history ever to do so. He returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for the game's first score. After Nate Kaeding's field goal increased the Chargers' lead to 10-0, Sproles returned a Hunter Smith punt 46 yards for another touchdown for a 16-0 lead. Sproles became the first NFL player to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same game since Dante Hall did so in 2003.
On December 16, 2007, Sproles ran one yard for his first career rushing touchdown against the Detroit Lions. This was followed by an 11 yard run for his second rushing touchdown, capping off his first 100+ yard rushing game.
2008
On September 14, 2008, Sproles became just the second player in NFL history with 50 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and 100 return yards in one game (the other being Gale Sayers with the Chicago Bears). His stats for the game included: 53 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards, and 192 return yards. Sproles logged 317 all-purpose yards in a 39-38 loss to the Denver Broncos. He also had a 103 yard touchdown return.
On January 3, 2009, during an AFC Wild card game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sproles ran for two touchdowns in place of the injured LaDainian Tomlinson, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat the Colts 23-17. With 105 yards rushing, 45 yards receiving and 178 return yards, Sproles finished the game with 328 all-purpose yards in the Chargers victory over the Colts, the third most all-purpose yards by a player in a single NFL post-season game in NFL history.[4][5] He was named the NBC Sunday Night Football "Horse Trailer Player of the Game" for the second consecutive week. The week following however, Sproles was stopped by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He managed only 15 yards on 11 carries, but did have 5 receptions for 91 yards including a 62-yard touchdown.
2009-2010
On February 18, 2009, the Chargers placed their franchise tag on Sproles.[6] He signed the tender on April 28, 2009, which is worth $6.621 million.
On March 4, 2010 it was reported that the Chargers will tender Sproles a contract, which will be worth approximately $7.3 million. Another team would have to give the Chargers first- and third-round draft picks if they signed Sproles.[7]
New Orleans Saints
2011
On July 29, 2011, Sproles signed a four year contract worth $14 million with the New Orleans Saints. The contract included $6 million in guaranteed money.[8] He returned a punt for a touchdown in an opening day loss against the Green Bay Packers.
On October 24, 2011, Sproles gained 190 all purpose yards in a 62-7 Saints win over Indianapolis. Sproles broke over 1,000 all-purpose yards in only his seventh game as a Saint. He now has 1,115 all-purpose yards this season.
Personal
Sproles' father Larry played running back at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Larry was 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)[9][10] His mother Annette died of cancer in April 2004.
Sproles married his longtime girlfriend, Michel Hunt, this past offseason. The couple have a daughter, Devyn.
Sproles is known by the nickname "Lightning Bug" due to his speed, agility, diminutive stature and the fact the Chargers uniform is adorned with lightning bolts. His other nickname is "Tank" that he has had since he was born, due to weighing 10 pounds (4.5 kg) at birth.
At 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m), 180 lb (82 kg) Sproles is no longer the smallest player in the NFL. Trindon Holliday (selected in 2010 entry draft) stands at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m).[11]
References
- ^ Sproles Will Let His Performance Do the Talking - Washington Post. August 25, 2004
- ^ Darren Sproles - San Diego Chargers. Chargers.com
- ^ Sproles high school Bio. - KStateSports.com
- ^ Sproles, Chargers shock Colts 23-17 in overtime upset by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Jan. 3, 2009 USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-01-03-colts-chargers_N.htm
- ^ Eight questions: Chargers not short on speed by Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports, Jan 7, 2009
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.secaucusnewjersey.org/darren-sproles-goes-to-new-orleans-saints-5678.html
- ^ [3]
- ^ The Associated Press -
- ^ http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/05/14/texans-sign-trindon-holliday/
External links
Thomas A. Simone Award winners 1983: Jeff Kelso | 1984: Shawn Long | 1985: Craig Phillips | 1986: Tim Ryan | 1987: Kenyon Rasheed | 1988: Derrick Hart | 1989: Jeff Handy | 1990: Kevin McIntosh | 1991: Andy Murray | 1992: Nate Minnis | 1993: Jason Thoren | 1994: Eddie Brooks | 1995: Arland Bruce III | 1996: Ladell Betts | 1997: Josh Brewer | 1998: Sean Doyle | 1999: Brandon Shelby | 2000: Darren Sproles | 2001: Maurice Mack | 2002: Jim Bouknight | 2003: Michael Keenan | 2004: Chase Coffman | 2005: Josh Freeman | 2006: Zack Rampy | 2007: Nathan Scheelhaase | 2008: Blaine Dalton | 2009: James Franklin | 2010: Bubba Starling
San Diego Chargers 2005 NFL Draft selections Shawne Merriman • Luis Castillo • Vincent Jackson • Darren Sproles • Wesley Britt • Wes Sims • Scott Mruczkowski50 Greatest Chargers Offense Defense Special teams Coaches Categories:- 1983 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from Iowa
- African American players of American football
- American football return specialists
- American football running backs
- Kansas State Wildcats football players
- People from Waterloo, Iowa
- People from Olathe, Kansas
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