2014 Player Spotlights: Venus Triplett

Olathe North's Venus Triplett.

Venus Triplett

Olathe North

Positon: Running Back

Height: 5-foot-8

Weight: 185 lbs.

Year: Senior
Film: Hudl

Player Comparisons

Justin Gore, Olathe North (2002-2004); Chucky Hunter, Free State (2006-2008)

The Skinny

Is Triplett ready to take over the league? Because if history repeats itself -- and it does quite frequently in the Sunflower League -- the returning First Team All-Sunflower League selection is standing at the doorstep of a Simone-esque senior season. 

In two years as Olathe North's starting running back, Triplett has tallied 438 carries for 2,478 yards (5.6 ypc) and 36 touchdowns. Those numbers are very good, but I'm hesitant to classify them as great by Olathe North standards. For reference, former Olathe North running back and Simone Award winner James Franklin had racked up 3,113 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns through his junior season.

But the point is not that Triplett hasn't yet qualified as a "great" Olathe North running back, but rather he has the chance to firmly solidify himself in that "great" group with an outstanding senior campaign. And if there was a fantasy league for the Sunflower League, Triplett would be the unanimous first choice on everyone's board.

Since 2000, an Olathe North running back has rushed for more than 2,000 yards on four occasions. In each of those four occasions, Olathe North won a state title and  the running back was awarded the Simone Award. The 2,000-yard rushing mark should be Triplett's baseline for greatness in his third and final season playing the vaunted running back position in Olathe North's offense. It would not only solidify Triplett's legacy with the Eagles, but it would also lend itself very well to Olathe North's title chances.