Darren Sproles named to College Football’s Half of Fame Class of 2021

On Monday morning, the NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 was announced. Among them is former Chargers fan favorite, do-it-all running back Darren Sproles.

Sproles starred at Kansas State University where he rushed for 4.979 yards and 45 touchdowns. As a junior in 2003, he led all of Division I with 1,986 rushing yards which helped him finish fifth among finalist for the Heisman Trophy. By the time he left KSU, he was sixth in all-purpose yards in NCAA history.

The 5’6, 190-pounder was drafted by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 draft with the 130th pick. In his five seasons with San Diego, he was a consistent dual-threat out of the backfield, finishing with totals of 1,154 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 1,400 receiving yards and 11 scores through the air. In 2009, his final year in San Diego, number 43 was named to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary Team as a kick returner.

Sproles went on to play three years with the Saints and then finished his career with six seasons in Philadelphia. During the 2011 season with New Orleans, he broke Derrick Mason’s record with all-purpose yards with 2,696. As a member of the Eagles in 2017, he won a ring in Super Bowl LII but was unfortunately out the majority of the year with an injury he sustained in Week 3.