Indiana University Athletics
Sophomore Wideout Looks to Explode
9/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 26, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. - The Indiana Hoosier offense has been categorized as explosive for the last four years because of the moves of Antwaan Randle El. The 2002 version of the Hoosiers is just as explosive, just in a different style. IU has gone to the air more often with the implementation of head coach Gerry DiNardo's Midwest Coast offense and found a tandem of dynamic receivers in junior Glenn Johnson and sophomore Courtney Roby.
"There is not really one area where people can key on when we have the running backs and receivers doing their jobs," Roby said. "It is not often when you have receivers and backs going 100 yards for a game. If we keep that up it will be real difficult for defenses to key in."
Trailing 7-0 against Central Michigan, the Hoosiers had to look no further than number 19 to even the score. Just one play and 22 seconds after the Chippewas scored, the Hoosiers struck as senior Gibran Hamdan hit a streaking Courtney Roby over the middle for a 76-yard touchdown. The reception marked the longest TD catch since Jerry Dorsey's 70-yard catch and scamper in 1999.
Roby has gone for 100 yards receiving in consecutive games this season against Kentucky and Central Michigan. He had five catches for 101 yards against the Wildcats of Kentucky and then pulled off a 153-yard performance on four catches against the Chippewas. On the season, the North Central High School product has 15 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown. The Hoosiers have had 100-yard receivers in their last three games with Roby in the last two and Glenn Johnson against Utah. Johnson leads the team with 18 catches for 356 yards and three touchdowns.
"I am very happy," Roby said of his play thus far. "There are obvious areas that I can improve on. I just try to improve every game and stay humble, and thank God for everything I am able to do. It is Him that has given me these talents. I just try to improve every game, look back on the game before and the mistakes I made and try not to make them again."
The receiving tandem has become one of the most explosive pairs in the Big Ten. Through the first four games of the season, Johnson ranks fifth in the conference in receiving yards per game, while Roby comes in right behind him at sixth. The duo is also in the top 10 in the conference in total offense. Johnson ranks ninth, while Roby is 10th.
"Glenn and I both talk about it and coaches talk about it as a group, we try to become the best receiving core in the Big Ten," Roby said. "Like I tell Glenn all the time, I am not stopping until we get there. I just try to go out, make plays and improve. Glenn and I feed off each other's energy. If I am having a good game, he tries to match it. If he is having a good game, I try to match it. And with that kind of attitude towards one another, that is how we keep improving."
The Hoosiers dynamic duo will get a stiff test this weekend against the secondary of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Game time is set for Saturday at 11:10 a.m. and will be televised on ESPN-Plus.
