#130 - 4th Round - San Diego, Darren Sproles, RB, KANSAS ST [Archive] - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Juke99

04-24-2005, 11:41 AM

Strengths: Is an experienced, proven, durable and versatile back. Has exceptional quickness and COD skills. He is a shifty runner that does a nice job of getting lost behind his offensive line. He has terrific vision, good burst to the hole, and does a nice job of cutting back against the grain. Shows very good body control and smooth hips. Will make a lot of defenders miss in space. Is a tough back for his size. Will break some arm tackles and does a good job of keeping his legs moving. He has a good feel as a route runner and reliable hands. Is a weapon in the passing game because of his receiving and open-field running skills. He also has NFL potential as a punt returner.

Weaknesses: Lacks NFL size. Is short and lacks bulk. He lacks power as a runner and he won't break enough tackles. Goes down too easily. He simply lacks the size and power of an every-down back in the NFL and he may never be more than a third down back and return specialist at the next level. Can be overwhelmed at the POA too often as a pass blocker.

Overall: Sproles saw time as a backup in his true freshman season in 2001 and he has been a fulltime starter since. He followed up an impressive 1,465-yard rushing campaign as a sophomore with an unprecedented 2,067 rushing yards as a junior in 2003. He also had 25 receptions for 287 yards; averaged 10 yards on 19 punt returns with a touchdown and 27.2 yards on 10 kickoff returns in 2003. As a senior in 2004, Sproles rushed for 1,318 yards and 11 TD's on 244 carries. He also chipped in for 223 yards on 32 receptions and 492 yards on 21 KOR's. Sproles is one of the quickest and most versatile running back prospects in the 2005 draft class. He shows excellent burst, elusiveness and acceleration as a runner. He is one of the most polished route runners and reliable receivers that the 2005 class has to offer at the RB position. He also shows reliable hands and explosiveness as a return specialist. Sproles' lack of size will prevent him from ever developing into a premier starting running back in the NFL. However, if his career at Kansas State wasn't enough, he more than proved at the Senior Bowl that he belongs and can contribute at the NFL level. His versatility and explosiveness will give the team that takes a chance on him an opportunity to get the ball in his hands several different ways as a runner, receiver and return man. Expect Sproles to come off the board late on Day 1 or early on Day 2 and to give his future employer Dave Meggett-type production.

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

Juke99

04-24-2005, 12:02 PM

Darren Sproles, HB, Kansas State
Height: 5:05.6 Weight: 181

Overview: One of the most prolific runners and all-purpose performers in college football history, Sproles rushed for a Kansas State career record 4,979 yards, a figure that ranks eleventh all-time on the NCAA career rushing chart and third on the Big Twelve Conference career record list. He also totaled a conference record 6,812 all-purpose yards, which ranks sixth on the NCAA's career list. In all, Sproles set 23 records while at Kansas State, including virtually every career, single-season and single-game mark for both rushing and all-purpose yards. He holds the KSU records for both career touchdowns (48) and career rushing touchdowns (45). Sproles totaled an incredible 24 career 100-yard rushing games, with five 200-yard rushing performances, and averaged 110.6 yards per game during his career. Sproles possesses an incredible work ethic and was referred to as "Dudley Dooright" by quarterback Dylan Meier because he always seems to do the right thing. He is extremely quick in and out of the hole, causing The Sporting News to call him the Big Twelve's "fastest running back." Sproles also served two seasons as a player representative and his senior campaign as one of five team captains. Selected an All-American by Student Sports Magazine as a senior at Olathe North High School, Sproles was the winner of the Thomas A. Simone Trophy, given to the top big-class football player in Kansas City metro area. He was named Kansas Player of Year by USA Today and the Kansas Hall of Fame Player of the Year. He was a member of the All-Class Kansas top-11 team and chosen Kansas City Star Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000. The two-time All-State, All-Metro, All-Sunflower League selection started for two seasons and lettered for three. Sproles rushed for 2,485 yards in 2000, scoring 49 touchdowns. He led the 12-0 Eagles to their fourth Kansas 6A state title in five years. He also gained 2,031 yards in nine games as a junior and finished his career with 5,230 yards and 79 touchdowns, averaging nearly 8.4 yards per carry. He holds nearly every rushing record at Olathe North. Sproles appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2001, missing the Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas Tech games with a fractured collarbone. He gained 210 yards with a touchdown on 28 runs (7.5 avg). He earned second-team All-Big Twelve Conference honors in 2002. Sproles broke eight individual school records during the course of that season, including rushing yards (1,465), rushing yards by a sophomore, 100-yard rushing games (10), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (nine), all-purpose yards (1,800), points by a sophomore (104) and rushing average per carry (6.18). Sproles finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy with 134 votes (15 first-place, 30 second and 29 third) and third in The Associated Press Player of the Year voting in 2003. He was runner-up for the Doak Walker Award and named the Big Twelve Conference Player of the Year by College Football News. Sproles led the nation in total rushing yards with a K-State single-season record 1,986 on 306 carries (6.5 avg). He ranked third on the NCAA's rushing-yards-per-game chart at 132.4 and also led the nation in all-purpose yardage with a KSU record 2,735 yards (182.3 ypg). The Associated Press named Sproles first-team All-Big Twelve in 2004. He finished the regular season ranked eleventh nationally in rushing yards per game (119.82) and third in all-purpose yards per game (187.91). In addition to his 4,979 yards and 45 touchdowns on 815 carries (6.1 avg), Sproles collected 609 yards and two scores on 66 receptions during his career. He also returned 40 punts for 378 yards (9.4 avg) and a touchdown and had 35 kickoff returns for 846 yards (24.2 avg).

Analysis: Positives... Has a very short and compact build, but is naturally strong and shows good muscle definition, good bubble and thick thighs. ... Possesses above average power and explosion coming off the snap. ... Does a very good job of finding the rush lanes and accelerating through the holes. ... He has excellent hip swerve, wiggle and balance to slip through tight creases. ... Despite his size, he has the strength, vision and cutback ability to drive hard for the inside yardage. ... His low center of gravity and leg drive allow him to regular break arm tackles. ... His lateral agility and body control will generally see the initial tackler miss when Sproles turns the corner. ... Has excellent agility to bounce outside to the perimeter when the holes are clogged. ... Instinctive setting up his blocks and has that second gear needed to elude in the open. ... Will lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage. ... Has the vision to spot and beat angles. ... Rarely outruns his blockers and does a good job of spinning, sliding, jump cutting and keeping his feet when attacking the hole. ... Very effective route runner who can even line up in the slot. ... Crisp runner on flares and is a natural hands catcher. ... His natural running instincts are evident when he generates a sudden burst when hitting the seam. ... Shifty and elusive in the open who demonstrates good ball security, holding on to the pigskin high and tight.

Negatives... Has a very small frame, but it packs impressive power. ... Can get rag-dolled by the larger defenders when he tries to pick up the blitz. ... Has good hands and runs decent routes, but the KSU system did not involve him in the passing game much. ... Does a good job of securing the ball, but has smaller than ideal hands. ... Poor intelligence test scores might indicate a problem digesting a complicated playbook. ... Good returner, but does not like to fair catch and needs to work behind his blocks better in this area (does show patience waiting for blocks to develop as a running back, though). ... Seems to run out of gas late in games (overuse) and might be better served as a third down back at the next level.

Agility tests: CAMPUS: 4.48 in the 40-yard dash...391-pound bench press...818-pound safe squat...319-pound power clean...33-inch vertical jump...Right-handed...7/13 Wonderlic score. COMBINE: 4.49 in the 40-yard dash...2.58 20-yard dash...1.53 10-yard dash...3.96 20-yard shuttle...11.13 60-yard shuttle...6.96 three-cone drill...33-inch vertical jump...8'9" broad jump... Bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times...28 -inch arm length...8 -inch hands...21 Wonderlic score.

High school: Attended Olathe (Kan.) North High School, playing football for coach Gene Weir.

Personal: : Born June 20, 1983, in Waterloo, Iowa... Parents are Larry and the late Annette Sproles... Major is communication science.

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