Indiana University Athletics
LoVecchio, Roby and Washington Recognized Nationally
6/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 18, 2003
Bloomington, Ind. - Three Hoosiers were listed as preseason honorable mention All-Americans in the Street & Smith's college football preview magazine. Junior quarterback Matt LoVecchio, junior wide receiver Courtney Roby and sohomore Yamar Washington were all chosen for the preseason honor by the national publication. In addition, LoVecchio was one of 15 preseason candidates for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's most outstanding quarterback.
LoVecchio is one of only four active quarterbacks in collegiate football that has started in a BCS bowl game. Last year, he spent much of his time working with the scout team for the Hoosiers during his NCAA-mandated redshirt season. This past spring LoVecchio got his most work running the Hoosier offense.
The Franklin Lakes, New Jersey native enjoyed early success at Notre Dame becoming the first freshman to start at quarterback in nine years when he led the Irish to Fiesta Bowl during the 2000 season. He won seven straight games to close out that season.
He passed for 1,118 yards on 86-of-158 passes and 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Notre Dame tied an NCAA record that year with just eight turnovers. He was named an honorable mention freshman All-American by Rivals.com.
Roby led the Hoosiers in receptions, yards receiving and all purpose yards in his sophomore campaign. He is currently just 278 yards away from cracking Indiana's top ten career receiving yardage list. At his current career pace he will post 3,288 career yards. The school mark for receiving yardage is 2,361 (Ernie Jones).
After only making 11 catches during his freshman season (2001), Roby exploded on the scene in 2002 with 59 receptions for 1,039 yards and four touchdowns. His performance last year ranked among the Hoosiers' top three in both single-season receptions (2nd) and receiving yards (3rd). His 11 receptions against Iowa tied him for the fifth on the single game charts and he now is just one of 12 players in IU history to tally 10 or more catches in a game. His 198 yards in that same contest is the fourth highest in team history.
Washington, the team's leading rusher from a season ago will miss the 2003 campaign with an ACL injury. He rushed for 688 yards on 174 carries and scored a team-best nine touchdowns on the season. Washington rushed for over 100 yards in three games including a career-best 163 yards at Kentucky.
