June 15, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -
Followers of the Illinois State football radio broadcast last season became accustomed to WJBC `s Greg Halbleib's call of "Luke to Laurént - Touchdown!" After all, the duo of quarterback Luke Drone and receiver Laurént Robinson connected for a school and Gateway Football Conference record 1,465 yards on 86 catches and 12 touchdowns. Robinson went on to be named the 2005 Gateway Offensive Player of the Year and a consensus all-America selection, thus it wasn't surprising when The Sports Network ranked Robinson as the country's No. 2 wide receiver at the I-AA level on Thursday.
In addition to his gaudy season numbers from 2005, Robinson registered some impressive single game stats, especially in big games. He opened the season with 177 receiving yards on six catches with a pair of touchdowns at Iowa State. At then-No. 1 Southern Illinois, Robinson totaled nine catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. In the home rout over national runner-up Northern Iowa, Robinson collected 243 yards on 11 catches and three touchdown grabs. But, his season highlight occurred in the finale when Robinson set school and league marks with 292 yards on 14 catches against Indiana State.
Robinson joined Drone, who was ranked as the No. 7 quarterback in I-AA two weeks ago, on the preseason list of Matt Dougherty's, the executive director of I-AA football at The Sports Network. Robinson was one of two Gateway receivers on Dougherty's top 25, joining Indiana State's Sam Logan, who was ranked No. 9. Also, Western Illinois' Boomer Moore was listed No. 5 among tight ends.
The product of Rockledge (Fla.) High School, Robinson is on pace to claim every school career receiving record. He enters the 2006 season needing only 26 catches, 431 yards and a single touchdown, to surpass the current record holder, Rickey Garrett, in every category.
