JD(eagles)
2005-04-06 13:01:03 UTC
Prospect Profiles
Darren Lee Sproles
Position: Running Back
College: Kansas State
Height: 5-6
Weight: 181
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
One of the most prolific runners and all-purpose performers in college
football history, Sproles rushed for a Kansas State career record 4,979
yards, a figure that ranks 11th all-time on the NCAA career rushing chart
and third on the Big 12 Conference career record list. He also totaled a
conference-record 6,812 all-purpose yards, which ranks sixth on the NCAA's
career list.
In all, Sproles set 23 records while at Kansas State, including virtually
every career, single-season and single-game mark for both rushing and
all-purpose yards. He holds the KSU records for both career touchdowns (48)
and career rushing touchdowns (45). Sproles totaled an incredible 24 career
100-yard rushing games, with five 200-yard rushing performances, and
averaged 110.6 yards per game during his career.
Sproles possesses an incredible work ethic and was referred to as "Dudley
Dooright" by quarterback Dylan Meier because he always seems to do the right
thing. He is extremely quick in and out of the hole, causing The Sporting
News to call him the Big 12's "fastest running back." Sproles also served
two seasons as a player representative and his senior campaign as one of
five team captains.
Selected an All-American by Student Sports Magazine as a senior at Olathe
North High School, Sproles was the winner of the Thomas A. Simone Trophy,
given to the top big-class football player in the Kansas City metro area. He
was named Kansas Player of the Year by USA Today and the Kansas Hall of Fame
Player of the Year. He was a member of the All-Class Kansas top-11 team and
chosen the Kansas City Star Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
The two-time all-state, all-metro, All-Sunflower League selection started
for two seasons and lettered for three. Sproles rushed for 2,485 yards in
2000, scoring 49 touchdowns. He led the 12-0 Eagles to their fourth Kansas
6A state title in five years. He also gained 2,031 yards in nine games as a
junior and finished his career with 5,230 yards and 79 touchdowns, averaging
nearly 8.4 yards per carry. He holds nearly every rushing record at Olathe
North.
Sproles appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2001, missing the
Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas Tech games with a fractured collarbone. He
gained 210 yards with a touchdown on 28 runs (7.5 avg.). He earned
second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2002. Sproles broke eight individual school
records during the course of that season, including rushing yards (1,465),
rushing yards by a sophomore, 100-yard rushing games (10), consecutive
100-yard rushing games (nine), all-purpose yards (1,800), points by a
sophomore (104) and rushing average per carry (6.18).
Sproles finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy with 134 votes (15
first place, 30 second and 29 third) and third in the Associated Press
Player of the Year voting in 2003. He was runner-up for the Doak Walker
Award and named the Big 12 Player of the Year by College Football News.
Sproles led the nation in total rushing yards with a K-State single-season
record 1,986 on 306 carries (6.5 avg.). He ranked third on the NCAA's
rushing-yards-per-game chart at 132.4 and also led the nation in all-purpose
yardage with a KSU record 2,735 yards (182.3 ypg.).
The Associated Press named Sproles first-team All-Big 12 in 2004. He
finished the regular season ranked 11th nationally in rushing yards per game
(119.82) and third in all-purpose yards per game (187.91). In addition to
his 4,979 yards and 45 touchdowns on 815 carries (6.1 avg.), Sproles
collected 609 yards and two scores on 66 receptions during his career. He
also returned 40 punts for 378 yards (9.4 avg.) and a touchdown and had 35
kickoff returns for 846 yards (24.2 avg.).
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a very short and compact build, but is naturally strong and
shows good muscle definition, good bubble and thick thighs . Possesses
above-average power and explosion coming off the snap . Does a very good job
of finding the rush lanes and accelerating through the holes . Has excellent
hip swerve, wiggle and balance to slip through tight creases . Despite his
size, he has the strength, vision and cutback ability to drive hard for the
inside yardage . His low center of gravity and leg drive allow him to break
arm tackles . His lateral agility and body control will generally see the
initial tackler miss when Sproles turns the corner . Has excellent agility
to bounce outside to the perimeter when the holes are clogged . Instinctive
setting up his blocks and has that second gear needed to elude in the open .
Will lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage . Has the vision to spot
and beat angles . Rarely outruns his blockers and does a good job of
spinning, sliding, jump cutting and keeping his feet when attacking the
hole . Very effective route runner who can even line up in the slot . Crisp
runner on flares and is a natural hands catcher . His natural running
instincts are evident when he generates a sudden burst when hitting the
seam . Shifty and elusive in the open, he demonstrates good ball security,
holding on to the pigskin high and tight.
Negatives: Has a very small frame, but it packs impressive power . Can get
rag-dolled by the larger defenders when he tries to pick up the blitz . Has
good hands and runs decent routes, but the KSU system did not involve him in
the passing game much . Does a good job of securing the ball, but has
smaller than ideal hands . Poor intelligence test scores might indicate a
problem digesting a complicated playbook . Good returner, but does not like
to fair catch and needs to work behind his blocks better in this area (does
show patience waiting for blocks to develop as a running back, though) .
Seems to run out of gas late in games (overuse) and might be better served
as a third-down back at the next level.
INJURY REPORT
2001 -- Did not play against Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas Tech after
fracturing his collarbone in the New Mexico State clash.
AGILITY
CAMPUS: 4.48 in the 40-yard dash . 391-pound bench press . 818-pound safe
squat . 319-pound power clean . 33-inch vertical jump . Right-handed.
COMBINE: 4.49 in the 40-yard dash . 2.58 20-yard dash . 1.53 10-yard dash .
3.96 20-yard shuttle . 11.13 60-yard shuttle . 6.96 three-cone drill .
33-inch vertical jump . 8-foot-9 broad jump . Bench-pressed 225 pounds 23
times . 28Œ-inch arm length . 8Œ-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Olathe (Kan.) North High School, playing football for coach Gene
Weir.
PERSONAL
: Born June 20, 1983, in Waterloo, Iowa . Parents are Larry and the late
Annette Sproles . Major is Communication Science.
Darren Lee Sproles
Position: Running Back
College: Kansas State
Height: 5-6
Weight: 181
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
One of the most prolific runners and all-purpose performers in college
football history, Sproles rushed for a Kansas State career record 4,979
yards, a figure that ranks 11th all-time on the NCAA career rushing chart
and third on the Big 12 Conference career record list. He also totaled a
conference-record 6,812 all-purpose yards, which ranks sixth on the NCAA's
career list.
In all, Sproles set 23 records while at Kansas State, including virtually
every career, single-season and single-game mark for both rushing and
all-purpose yards. He holds the KSU records for both career touchdowns (48)
and career rushing touchdowns (45). Sproles totaled an incredible 24 career
100-yard rushing games, with five 200-yard rushing performances, and
averaged 110.6 yards per game during his career.
Sproles possesses an incredible work ethic and was referred to as "Dudley
Dooright" by quarterback Dylan Meier because he always seems to do the right
thing. He is extremely quick in and out of the hole, causing The Sporting
News to call him the Big 12's "fastest running back." Sproles also served
two seasons as a player representative and his senior campaign as one of
five team captains.
Selected an All-American by Student Sports Magazine as a senior at Olathe
North High School, Sproles was the winner of the Thomas A. Simone Trophy,
given to the top big-class football player in the Kansas City metro area. He
was named Kansas Player of the Year by USA Today and the Kansas Hall of Fame
Player of the Year. He was a member of the All-Class Kansas top-11 team and
chosen the Kansas City Star Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
The two-time all-state, all-metro, All-Sunflower League selection started
for two seasons and lettered for three. Sproles rushed for 2,485 yards in
2000, scoring 49 touchdowns. He led the 12-0 Eagles to their fourth Kansas
6A state title in five years. He also gained 2,031 yards in nine games as a
junior and finished his career with 5,230 yards and 79 touchdowns, averaging
nearly 8.4 yards per carry. He holds nearly every rushing record at Olathe
North.
Sproles appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2001, missing the
Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas Tech games with a fractured collarbone. He
gained 210 yards with a touchdown on 28 runs (7.5 avg.). He earned
second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2002. Sproles broke eight individual school
records during the course of that season, including rushing yards (1,465),
rushing yards by a sophomore, 100-yard rushing games (10), consecutive
100-yard rushing games (nine), all-purpose yards (1,800), points by a
sophomore (104) and rushing average per carry (6.18).
Sproles finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy with 134 votes (15
first place, 30 second and 29 third) and third in the Associated Press
Player of the Year voting in 2003. He was runner-up for the Doak Walker
Award and named the Big 12 Player of the Year by College Football News.
Sproles led the nation in total rushing yards with a K-State single-season
record 1,986 on 306 carries (6.5 avg.). He ranked third on the NCAA's
rushing-yards-per-game chart at 132.4 and also led the nation in all-purpose
yardage with a KSU record 2,735 yards (182.3 ypg.).
The Associated Press named Sproles first-team All-Big 12 in 2004. He
finished the regular season ranked 11th nationally in rushing yards per game
(119.82) and third in all-purpose yards per game (187.91). In addition to
his 4,979 yards and 45 touchdowns on 815 carries (6.1 avg.), Sproles
collected 609 yards and two scores on 66 receptions during his career. He
also returned 40 punts for 378 yards (9.4 avg.) and a touchdown and had 35
kickoff returns for 846 yards (24.2 avg.).
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a very short and compact build, but is naturally strong and
shows good muscle definition, good bubble and thick thighs . Possesses
above-average power and explosion coming off the snap . Does a very good job
of finding the rush lanes and accelerating through the holes . Has excellent
hip swerve, wiggle and balance to slip through tight creases . Despite his
size, he has the strength, vision and cutback ability to drive hard for the
inside yardage . His low center of gravity and leg drive allow him to break
arm tackles . His lateral agility and body control will generally see the
initial tackler miss when Sproles turns the corner . Has excellent agility
to bounce outside to the perimeter when the holes are clogged . Instinctive
setting up his blocks and has that second gear needed to elude in the open .
Will lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage . Has the vision to spot
and beat angles . Rarely outruns his blockers and does a good job of
spinning, sliding, jump cutting and keeping his feet when attacking the
hole . Very effective route runner who can even line up in the slot . Crisp
runner on flares and is a natural hands catcher . His natural running
instincts are evident when he generates a sudden burst when hitting the
seam . Shifty and elusive in the open, he demonstrates good ball security,
holding on to the pigskin high and tight.
Negatives: Has a very small frame, but it packs impressive power . Can get
rag-dolled by the larger defenders when he tries to pick up the blitz . Has
good hands and runs decent routes, but the KSU system did not involve him in
the passing game much . Does a good job of securing the ball, but has
smaller than ideal hands . Poor intelligence test scores might indicate a
problem digesting a complicated playbook . Good returner, but does not like
to fair catch and needs to work behind his blocks better in this area (does
show patience waiting for blocks to develop as a running back, though) .
Seems to run out of gas late in games (overuse) and might be better served
as a third-down back at the next level.
INJURY REPORT
2001 -- Did not play against Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas Tech after
fracturing his collarbone in the New Mexico State clash.
AGILITY
CAMPUS: 4.48 in the 40-yard dash . 391-pound bench press . 818-pound safe
squat . 319-pound power clean . 33-inch vertical jump . Right-handed.
COMBINE: 4.49 in the 40-yard dash . 2.58 20-yard dash . 1.53 10-yard dash .
3.96 20-yard shuttle . 11.13 60-yard shuttle . 6.96 three-cone drill .
33-inch vertical jump . 8-foot-9 broad jump . Bench-pressed 225 pounds 23
times . 28Œ-inch arm length . 8Œ-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Olathe (Kan.) North High School, playing football for coach Gene
Weir.
PERSONAL
: Born June 20, 1983, in Waterloo, Iowa . Parents are Larry and the late
Annette Sproles . Major is Communication Science.