Titans nab Roby in draft

After sitting in front of a television for more than seven hours Saturday afternoon, a lifetime's dream became a reality for former IU wide receiver Courtney Roby, who was selected 68th overall in the NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.\n"I was excited," Roby said. "It is definitely a dream come true. I'm just ready to get to work."\nThe Indianapolis native will have the opportunity to get plenty of action in his rookie season. Roby, the highest of the three wide receivers drafted by the Titans, will join a squad with only two receivers on their current roster in Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico.\nEven with the competition for playing time, it isn't a major concern, Roby said.\n"There are only two receivers there at Tennessee," he said. "You need more there; an NFL team usually keeps six on the roster. (Fighting) for playing time doesn't concern me at all."\nAs Roby joins the Titans, he comes into an offense that throws the ball -- a lot. Tennessee ranked ninth in the NFL last season in passing with just less than 4,000 yards.\nThe greater opportunity for playing time is one of the reasons Roby was happy to land with them in the third round, he said.\n"Hopefully I can fill (the void of third receiver)," Roby said on the Tennessee Titans Web site www.titansonline.com. "It gives me a great situation to compete for a starting position when I come in."\nRoby is the second wide receiver to be drafted from IU since 2002, when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Antwaan Randle El in the second round. Randle El originally played quarterback at IU but made the switch once he joined the NFL.\nIn his four-year stay in Bloomington, Roby gave the Titans and the rest of the league plenty of reasons to draft him.\nDuring his senior season, Roby broke both the career catches mark and yards receiving mark with 170 and 2,521 yards, respectively.\nThat achievement factored into the decision-making process to pick the multitalented receiver, said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, according to the team's Web site.\n"Courtney had some good numbers in average per catch," he said. "We didn't draft a possession receiver. We drafted (Roby and Brandon Jones from Oklahoma) to make big plays down the field. Whichever one picks up the offense quicker, we'll probably be able to move them inside."\nWhile at IU, Roby's dominance wasn't limited to the gridiron as he starred in track. His speed made Roby an even more sought-after prospect. During the NFL Combine, Roby posted the second-fastest 40-yard time of all the receivers.\n"Roby is really, really fast," said Tennessee General Manager Floyd Reese on the Titans' Web site. "He's a 4.29 (40-yard dash) kind of guy."\nAs a rookie, Roby said he knows much will be expected of him. In addition to wide receiver duties, Roby is expected to play special teams, something many rookies do.\nNow that Roby finally has achieved his dream of making it to the NFL, he can now concentrate on catching passes from Titans quarterback Steve McNair, he said.\n"It was very stressful on the days up to the draft, and now that it is over, I can breathe easier," Roby said. "I don't think it has hit me yet that I'm in the NFL. I think it will once I get a chance to sit back and think about it."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.