“I don’t like all that attention,” Sproles said. “I just like playing football. That’s all I want to do is play football. I don’t want to talk to the media and stuff like that.”

Sproles was a first-team All-American running back last year when he led the nation with 1,986 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 287 yards and two more TDs, and he was a dangerous threat on special teams with 482 return yards and a touchdown. The former Olathe North standout led the nation with 2,735 all-purpose yards.

It wasn’t good enough — though K-State won the Big 12 Conference title and played in a bowl for the 11th straight season — to land any of the nation’s major awards. He was runner-up for the Doak Walker Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top running back, and finished third in Associated Press Player of the Year voting.

He didn’t even make it to New York as a Heisman finalist, finishing fifth.

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

What would it mean to the 5-foot-7, 188-pound back to win the Heisman and prove to his early critics that he wasn’t too small for football?

Not much.

“I really don’t care about the Heisman,” Sproles told reporters — many of whom will cast ballots for the award this winter — Wednesday at Day Two of Big 12 media days. “As long as my team wins, I’m fine. My goal is to help this team win the national championship.”

The humble running back clearly was in the minority among K-Staters when it came to embracing the Heisman hype. K-State on Tuesday launched www.darrensproles43.com. The Web site, which will be updated after each game, features statistics and video devoted to garnering more attention for Sproles — and KSU.

His teammates weren’t a bit jealous.

“I think we need the attention,” defensive end Scott Edmonds said. “Personally, I don’t think we get enough good attention. Last year definitely put us on the map, and I think this year will help us even more. It’s fine with me. I know it’s fine with other players, too.”

It’s more than fine with coach Bill Snyder, who allowed an individual player to be featured on the cover of KSU’s media guide for the first time in his 16 seasons.

“I want him to be prominent in the Heisman race,” Snyder said. “And I’d love to see him win it.”

Some skeptics may question what Sproles can accomplish without his former backfield mate, departed dual-threat quarterback Ell Roberson.

“When you look at the Web site and see some of the plays, you say, ‘The guy may not need a quarterback,'” Snyder said. “‘He might not need anybody.’ But we know that’s not true … You’d like to spread it around, but he can do it all on his own if he has to.”

Kansas State almost didn’t have Sproles to promote. The running back pondered turning pro after K-State’s 35-28 loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl before deciding to return to Manhattan.

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“The main reason was my mom wanted me to stay in,” Sproles said of his mother, Annette, who died in April at age 41. “She wanted me to finish my degree. … Me and my mom were real close. When it first happened, I was more mad than hurt. Since some time has passed, it kind of got easier.”

Sproles won’t forget the lessons learned from his mother, who battled cancer for five years.

“She told me to never give up,” he said.