In
2001, Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas had a
little running back by the name of Darren Sproles. I
don't use 'little running back' as a cute term of
endearment, I use it because that is precisely what
Darren Sproles is, little. Coming out of high school,
Darren was listed at 5' 7” and 170 lbs., when in reality
he was probably closer to 5' 5 ½” and 160 lbs. He
fibbed a little, but they all do it. When you are
trying to put yourself out there to all the major
universities, you do what you think is necessary.
Looking back now, it's hard to imagine that it was
Darren Sproles who would have to court football
programs, but he's used to being doubted.
After
forcing his local youth football program to change their
rules because of his speed, people questioned whether or
not he could compete at the next level. In high school,
Sproles lit up the record books with 2,845 yards rushing
and 49 touchdowns; still people questioned whether or
not he could compete at the next level. Most of the
powerhouse D-1 schools thought he was too small and, at
best, might make a good kick returner. Oklahoma,
Missouri, and Nebraska all gave Sproles a polite,
“Thanks, but no thanks,” not being inclined to give a
scholarship to a one-dimensional kick returner. Kansas
said no as well, although they changed their minds just
a little too late as Kansas State had shown interest in
him…and as they say, the rest is history.
As a
true freshman, Darren Sproles showed flashes of things
to come. Even after injuring his shoulder in the first
game, he continued to play in six regular season games
that year, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Coach Bill
Snyder smiled a sly smile knowing he had something very
special flying just below the radar in Darren.
In
2002, Sproles quietly ran for 1,465 yards and had 16
touchdowns and added yards receiving and returning kicks
for a net total of 1,800 yards. Kansas State knew what
they were seeing was the real deal and they knew it was
just a matter of time before this kid would hit it big.
As a sophomore, he was already being mentioned for
numerous awards including Honorable Mention All-American
and Second Team All-Big 12.
In
2003, Darren Sproles exploded to become everything
Kansas State and Coach Snyder had known he would be. He
was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, All-Big
12, AP First Team All-American, 5th in Heisman voting,
and the list goes on and on. He ran for 1,986 yards and
16 touchdowns and added 287 yards and 2 touchdowns
receiving, crushing the school’s single season and
single game rushing records. He finished the season
with 2,735 all-purpose yards. Even with those numbers
and after all of his accolades, Darren Sproles will be
forever remembered for what he did against the mighty
Oklahoma Sooners. Against spectacular OU defensive and
special teams units, Sproles rushed for an astonishing
345 all-purpose yards in leading his team to a thorough
thumping of OU. The little running back that everyone
doubted, the one that people wondered if he could
compete at the next level, did indeed compete.
In
the spring and summer of 2004, people already had
Sproles locked in as their favorite to win the vaunted
Heisman Trophy. Kansas State had, for the most part, a
cushy pillow-like schedule for the 2004 season and there
was almost nothing standing in the way of the 'little
guy in purple' showing that 2003 was hardly a fluke. In
Manhattan, Kansas, he was Superman and he'd continue to
prove that he could compete at this level and the
Heisman would be his. The only competition they could
see on their schedule was OU and even if Darren couldn't
lead the Wildcats past the mighty Sooners, he'd run well
and he'd still be a shoe-in, right?
Now
remind me what it was that my mother used to say about
counting chickens before they hatch…Oh that's right —
don't do it!
Kansas State opened the season ranked 14th in the
country and Darren racked up 221 total yards in a 14
point win over Western Kentucky. Some whispers were
being heard, after all, it was only 14 points against
Western Kentucky, but it was just the first game and
they'd be fine.
Week
2 brought Fresno State to the field and although they
were considered a good team, they surely couldn't be
expected to stop that little RB in purple, could they?
Yes, they could. With only 11 carries and 37 yards,
Sproles was no longer Superman and after a 45-21
thrashing, people started to worry — not only about
Sproles' Heisman hopes, but K-State's entire season.
Week
3 gave Sproles the opportunity to disprove his doubters
once again. With 38 carries and a whopping 292 yards,
he breathed life back into the Heisman chatter and
carried the Wildcats to a 40-20 win.
That
talk didn't last long though. In a 42-30 loss against
Texas A&M, Sproles rushed 20 times and gaining only 61
total yards. Suddenly not only were Sproles' Heisman
hopes dashed, but seemingly so were the high hopes for
Kansas State's season…and rightfully so. It was the
beginning of a meltdown by Sproles and the rest of the
Wildcats. He rushed for only 73 yards against Kansas
and 34 against the OU team he had ran all over the year
before. With a total of 168 yards in 3 games, any
breath left in his Heisman hopes were sucked out.
While
Sproles bounced back for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns
against the inferior defense of Nebraska, he could only
manage 83 yards against a Texas Tech defense, which was
quite possibly as bad, if not worse.
Darren Sproles has gone from one of the highest profile
running back prospects to being ranked 13th and again
the naysayers are asking the question he must be tired
of hearing. Can he compete at the next level?
I say
he can. Sproles is a very good running back on a very
average football team. The Kansas State offensive line
is playing poorly and being dominated at the line of
scrimmage. Moreover, the Kansas State defense can't
seem to stop anyone from scoring at will. It seems that
Kansas State can't get out of its own way and any
running back, regardless of size, would have a hard time
succeeding in that atmosphere.
Without the help of a talented team around him, Sproles'
flaws have been exposed this year. He has put the ball
on the ground more this year and sometimes seems to have
given up in several games; both telltale signs that a
running back is trying to carry too big of a load. In
addition, without Roberson in the offense, his
decision-making skills have been tested and he's failed
to consistently make those decisions quickly enough.
Even
with his performances this year, I am still impressed
with Darren Sproles, and I believe he will make a
dependable back in the NFL. He has blazing speed, good
hands, very shifty feet, and he runs with a surprising
power for a back of his size. His past accomplishments
should not be overshadowed, nor his past awards
tarnished, for one bad season.
Unfortunately for Darren Sproles, the NFL draft is a
“what have you done for me lately?” kind of experience.
The NFL scouts often look at whether or not a player can
pick up the slack and improve a team that is playing
poorly and Sproles has not been able to do much in that
arena for the Wildcats this year. With that, his draft
stock has plummeted and I project him to be a 3rd round
pick at best.
Most
draft prognosticators are predicting that Sproles will
never be more than a kick/punt returner in the NFL but I
disagree, he’ll be those things, but more. He's been
doubted before at every level and the NFL is just the
next step. Can he compete at the next level?
Throughout Manhattan people are asking a different
question: "Superman, where are you?” It seems that
Darren Sproles has been infected with his own little
version of Kryptonite but don't fret. Superman always
comes through in the end, and I expect Darren will also.
