Sproles during his tenure with the San Diego Chargers. |
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| No. 43 New Orleans Saints | |
| Running back / Return specialist | |
| Personal information | |
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| Date of birth: June 20, 1983 | |
| Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa | |
| Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 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 | |
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| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2011 | |
| Rushing Yards | 1,650 |
| Rushing Average | 5.1 |
| Total Return Yards | 8,541 |
| Total Touchdowns | 29 |
| 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.
Sproles was named as kick returner for the San Diego Chargers' '50 Greatest Chargers' team. He joined the Saints in free agency before the 2011 season, and broke the NFL record for most single-season all-purpose yardage the same year, with 2,696 yards.
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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.
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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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]
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 December 26, 2011, he helped Drew Brees break the single season record for passing yards (5,084), held by Dan Marino since 1984, with a 9 yard touchdown catch on the last offensive play for the Saints in the 4th quarter against the Atlanta Falcons. That pass gave Brees 5,087 yards for the 2011 regular season with one game remaining.
Sproles broke over 1,000 all-purpose yards in only his seventh game as a Saint. Maintaining an average of 168.5 all purpose yards per game Sproles finished the 2011 season with 2,696 all-purpose yards, breaking the NFL single-season record, previously set in 2000 by Derrick Mason (2,690 yards).[9]
Sproles' father Larry played running back at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Larry was 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)[10][11] 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.
At 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m), 180 lb (82 kg) Sproles is currently the smallest player in the NFL. Trindon Holliday (selected in 2010 entry draft) stands at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m), but his contract with the Houston Texans was terminated in October 2011. [12]
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