2000

Darren Sproles

Senior RB

Olathe (Kan.) North HS

Darren Sproles is arguably the most prolific running back the Kansas City area has ever produced. At just 5-foot-6 he runs with power and speed alike. In his senior season at Olathe North, he rushed for 2,485 yards and 49 touchdowns while leading the 12-0 Eagles to their fourth State Title in five seasons. His numbers would have been even greater if he hadn’t sat out many fourth quarters and some third due to the Eagles’ lopsided scores. He finished his high school career with 5,230 yards, 79 touchdowns and 8.4 yards per carry.

Sproles went on to Kansas State, where Division I defenses has no more success stopping him than high school defense did. In 45 games over four years, Sproles rushed for 4,969 yards and 45 touchdowns. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting his junior year after amassing 1,986 yards and scoring 11 TDs.

The San Diego Chargers drafted Sproles in the fourth round of the 2005 National Football League Draft, pick no. 130 overall. Initially a punt and kick returner while backing up LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner with the Chargers, he set an NFL record by returning a kick and punt for his first two NFL touchdown – the only player in league history to ever achieve that mark.

In 2009, he filled in for the injured Tomlinson at running back in the AFC Wild Card Game. Sproles ran for two touchdowns, rushed for 105 yards, had 45 yards receiving and 178 return yards. The 328 all-purpose yards were the third-most in a single game in NFL history.

Only two players in NFL history have ever had a game of at least 50 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving and 100 return yards – Sproles in 2008 and the great Gale Sayers with the Chicago Bears.

Darren Sproles	Former Chiefs great Bobby Bell	Olathe North Head Coach Gene Wier
Chad Harberts of Metro Sports, Kansas Coach of the Year Gene Wier of Olathe North, Missouri Coach of the Year Chip Sherman of Platte County and Brad Porter of Metro Sports
Blue Springs Head Coach Kelly Donohoe, Buchanan Award winner Earl Jack and Blue Spring Athletic Director Tim Crone