Darren Sproles

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Darren Sproles bigraphy, stories - Player of American football

Darren Sproles : biography

June 20, 1983 –

Darren Lee Sproles (born June 20, 1983) is an American football running back 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. During that season he set career highs with 603 yards rushing (6.9 yards per carry) and 710 yards receiving and a combined total of 9 touchdowns. Sproles is the first player in NFL history with 2,200+ all purpose yards in 4 different seasons (2008-2011).

Personal

Sproles’ father Larry played running back at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Larry was His mother Annette died of cancer in April 2004.

Sproles married his longtime girlfriend, Michel Hunt, on June 12, 2010. The couple has 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.

Sproles nickname in New Orleans is "noseeum", after a tiny local insect that is too small to see but still has a mean bite.

Sproles maintains his offseason home in San Diego.

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.

Sproles was also a track star at Kansas State University, where he recorded a personal best of 10.93 seconds in the 100 meter in 2001.

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

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. – Washington Post. August 25, 2004 Sproles was a star in football, earning the name "Tank," after being born at . – San Diego Chargers. Chargers.com 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.. – KStateSports.com 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.http://sunflowerfootball.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-sunflower-league-running-backs.html