Roby breaking IU receiving records

Doing it humbly and through hard work is the only way senior wide receiver Courtney Roby has gotten as far as he has, and where he is at is on top of the IU receiving marks for both receptions and yards.\nRoby began the season in seventh place in the Hoosier history books with 115 receptions and fifth in all-time yards with 1,714.\nThe Indianapolis native surpassed former IU receiver Thomas Lewis with his 149th catch, a seven-yarder across the middle in the second overtime in the Hoosiers' 31-24 loss in double overtime against Northwestern.\nSitting only 59 yards away from the all-time yards mark, Roby didn't waste anytime moving up to first in the next game against Ohio State by catching an eight-yard route late in the second quarter. The catch moved him into first place, ahead of former IU wide receiver Ernie Jones with 2,385 yards.\nThe idea of becoming the most prolific wide receiver in Hoosiers' history wasn't one that crossed Roby's mind when he came to IU out of North Central High School in Indianapolis, he said.\n"I was just a snotty-nosed freshman who decided to play Division I, Big Ten football," Roby said. "All the other stuff never really crossed my mind; I just tried to find my niche and tried to fit in."\nFitting in on the field hasn't been a problem for Roby as he has been an impact player from his first days in Bloomington.\nStarting three games as a freshman in 2001, he caught one touchdown pass to go along with his 171 yards. Roby didn't suffer through the sophomore slump as he became a go to target for the Hoosiers as he went for over 1,000 yards receiving in addition to his four touchdowns. Last season, Roby didn't have the same kind of success, suffering from an injury he was limited to 45 receptions while starting the entire season.\nRoby has already surpassed his mark in yards last season with 671 and his five touchdown receptions this season are as many as his first three seasons in Bloomington.\nBringing good habits to the field and going full force is one of the reasons Roby is on track to becoming one of the top receivers in IU's history, Hoosiers' wide receiver coach Bob McConnell said.\n"He really loves the game, loves to compete, he knows and understands that there are things he needs to work on to make him better," McConnell, the first year assistant coach, said. "(Roby) is a complete player and has tremendous pride in what he does and doesn't want to do things halfhearted. You always autograph your work; he puts an exclamation point behind his work."\nDespite all the records he is setting, Roby continues to remain grounded about his situation.\n"One thing that I've always learned is to be humble," Roby said. "I realize that I do have talent, but at the same time as fast as I have gotten that talent it can be taken away."\nBeing a senior and a captain, Roby has answered the call of leading the team and the wide receivers. Though he can be vocal when necessary, Roby's forte is leading by example. Trying to teach the younger players to do the right thing is important to him. Roby said he tries to do this by going to class everyday and listening to the coaches.\nWatching one of the best receivers in IU history is an advantage junior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore is taking advantage of, he said.\n"For the ones who came before you, you look to see what they did and when it is your time to step up you take advantage of it," Gilmore said. "Right now is (Roby's) time to shine and I enjoy watching him play."\nThrough all the 154 catches Roby has caught in his three-plus years, the one that sticks out the most was during his sophomore season when he caught a pass on a short route and had to jump over a player for the first down in the game winning drive against No. 23 Wisconsin in 32-29 win.\nRoby doesn't typecast himself as a certain type of receiver, though both McConnell and Gilmore feel he is a yards after catch receiver because he can turn dead plays into large ones.\n"I just try to make plays whenever possible," Roby said. "If I have to make the short catch I can do that or catch the long ball. I have the speed to go deep and the guts to go across the middle."\nFans won't have to suffer from Roby withdrawal -- at least in name. Courtney's younger brother, Brandon Walker-Roby, has verbally committed to play for the Hoosiers in 2005.\nWith his hard work, Roby is preparing himself for a shot at the NFL, but he is remaining humble in his quest, continuing to maintain a team first attitude.\n"I'm just focusing on team goals, after the season they will definitely sink in a lot more," Roby said. "(The records) would mean a lot more, I can't express that enough. A goal of every individual on this squad was to go to a bowl game. We are going to have to win out the rest of the season, but everything would mean so much more."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edi.