Hall of Fame
Position: Running Back
Years: 2001-2004
Place of Birth: Waterloo, IA
Date of Birth: June 20, 1983
Jersey Number: 43
Height: 5-7
Weight: 180
High School: Olathe North HS (Olathe, KS)
One of the most electric and prolific runners in college football history, Darren Sproles ranks as Kansas State's all-time leading rusher holding more than 20 school and conference records. The Olathe, Kansas, native becomes the third Wildcat player in the College Football Hall of Fame.
A First Team All-American in 2003, Sproles finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting after leading the nation with 1,986 rushing yards. A three-time All-Big 12 performer, he earned first team honors in 2003 and 2004 and second team accolades in 2002. In 2003, Sproles led K-State to the Big 12 title, its first conference title since 1934, after posting 345 all-purpose yards, catching a 60-yd touchdown pass and rushing for a Big 12 Championship Game record 235 yards in an upset win over No. 1 Oklahoma. One of three finalists for the 2003 AP Player of the Year, he earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2002, and he led the FBS in all-purpose yards (2,067) in 2004. The 2003 Doak Walker Award finalist led the Wildcats to three postseason berths, including a win in the 2002 Holiday Bowl, and two top-15 finishes in 2002 (No. 7) and 2003 (No. 14).
Playing for College Football Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder, Sproles finished his career 11th all-time in rushing and sixth all-time in all-purpose yards in NCAA history. A member of the K-State Football Ring of Honor, he left Manhattan with 28 single-game, single-season or career records, 21 of which are still standing. The senior team captain boasts program career records for rushing yards (4,979), all-purpose yards (6,812), rushing attempts (815), rushing yards per carry (6.11), 100-yard rushing games (24) and consecutive 100-yard rushing games (10). Sproles still holds three of the top five single-season rushing performances in school history, including the top mark of 1,986 in 2003. His 2,735 all-purpose yards in 2003 are a Big 12 and K-State single-season record, and he also holds conference records for career 100-yard games and career all-purpose yards.
A fourth-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft, Sproles played 15 seasons in the league with the Chargers (2005-10), New Orleans Saints (2011-13) and Philadelphia Eagles (2014-19). The three-time Pro Bowl selection was a member of the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII. Currently ranked sixth in NFL history with 19,696 all-purpose yards, Sproles set the single-season league record with 2,696 in 2011.
Giving back to the community, Sproles has funded football and life skills camps for at-risk youth in Kansas and San Diego. He also helped a family in New Orleans rebuild their home. Sproles currently works as a personnel consultant for the Eagles.
